The heart of one who practices is like the earth. No matter what they throw on it, the earth remains unchanged.

Every small positive change we make in ourselves repays us in confidence in the future.

Compassion is a verb.

Only to the extent that we expose ourselves over and over to annihilation can that which is indestructible be found in us.

The archer ceases to be conscious of himself as the one who is engaged in hitting the bull's-eye which confronts him. This state of unconsciousness is realized only when, completely empty and rid of the self, he becomes one with the perfecting of his technical skill.

Meditation is not just about sitting quietly, it's about transforming the mind.

Work out your own salvation. Do not depend on others.

Wisdom and compassion must be developed equally and harmoniously.

When things fall apart and we're on the verge of we know not what, the test of each of us is to stay on that brink and not concretize.

Meditation is not about stopping thoughts, but recognizing that we are not our thoughts.

Karma is not fate but the law of moral causation, showing us that we are the architects of our own destiny.

Genuine happiness comes from having developed basic human qualities, such as attention, emotional balance, and generosity.

The noting mind and the object noted appear to occur as a pair. Through concentration they are seen to arise and vanish together.

The root of happiness is altruism — the wish to be of service to others.

When we rest in awareness, we discover a peace that is always present, regardless of circumstances.

The Buddha's teachings are not about abandoning our lives but about bringing the fullness of our attention to our lives.

Liberation is not found by running away from our experience but by looking deeply into it.

Study the Buddha's teaching which is present in every moment.

In the moment of love, awareness is very strong. Use that awareness, that strength of consciousness, to look into yourself.

The practice of mindfulness begins in the small, remote cave of your unconscious mind and blossoms with the sunlight of your conscious life.

The practice is like peeling an onion. Layer after layer of delusion is removed through continuous mindfulness.

Silence is so much more productive of wisdom and clarity than thinking.

Just as parents care for their children, you should bear in mind the whole universe.

Compassion is not mere sentiment but a powerful force that can transform both ourselves and others.

When you practice zazen you should not try to attain anything. You should just sit in the complete calmness of your mind and not rely on anything.

Short moments, many times. That is the essence of meditation practice.

Not by hatred is hatred conquered, but by love alone. This is an eternal law.

When you listen to someone, you should give up all your preconceived ideas and your subjective opinions.

Every moment of confusion is also a moment of wisdom, if we can learn to recognize it.

We deal with our mind from morning until evening, and it can be our best friend or our worst enemy.

Understanding at the intellectual level is not enough. There must be experience at the actual level.

Meditation is not about trying to change your experience; it's about changing your relationship to your experience.

The practice of patience guards us against losing our presence of mind.

Just know what is happening in your mind - not happy or sad about it, not attached. If you suffer, see it, know it, be empty.

The goal of meditation is not to achieve a blank mind, but to gain insight into the nature of mind itself.

Equanimity is not indifference. It is the balanced mind that sees things clearly without reaction.

If your compassion does not include yourself, it is incomplete.

The practice of mindfulness is simply to bring awareness to what we are doing, what we are saying, and what we are thinking.

Our defilements are like tame tigers. If you feed them, they're tame. If you stop feeding them, they'll eat you up.

Self-awareness is the key to freedom. The more we understand ourselves, the more we understand how to be free.

The practice of mindfulness transforms the mind from a place of suffering into an instrument of enlightenment.

When you note effectively, there is no time for defilements to arise. The mind becomes pure through noting.

Radiate boundless love towards the entire world — above, below, and across — unhindered, without ill will, without enmity.

When dharma fills your body and mind, you realize that something is missing.

Our own life has to be our message.

Insight knowledge comes from direct experience, not from intellectual understanding.

As a flower that is lovely and beautiful, but is scentless, even so fruitless is the well-spoken word of one who does not practice it.

The Four Noble Truths are not mere doctrinal propositions but a framework for understanding and transforming our lives.

Let go of what has passed. Let go of what may come. Let go of what is happening now. Don't try to figure anything out. Don't try to make anything happen. Relax, right now, and rest.

When you note pain, you should not dwell on the thought, "I feel pain." Simply recognize the presence of pain.

The signs of practice are not in extraordinary experiences but in extraordinary awareness of ordinary experiences.

The Buddha's teaching is a teaching of self-reliance, of being one's own master, one's own refuge.

Love is not a feeling. It's a capability.

Metta is the ability to embrace all parts of ourselves, as well as all parts of the world.

Each moment of noting is a moment of purification, a moment of cultivating the path.

Look at situations from all angles, and you will become more open.

The deepest happiness comes from having an enduring sense of purpose, one that gives our lives meaning beyond the endless pursuit of pleasure and success.

Drink your tea slowly and reverently, as if it is the axis on which the world earth revolves - slowly, evenly, without rushing toward the future.

The path is not about perfecting ourselves, but about perfecting our love.

In the monastery of your body, the monk of your mind must stay in retreat.