When mindfulness is weak, defilements are strong; when mindfulness is strong, defilements are weak.

When we are mindful, deeply in touch with the present moment, our understanding of what is going on deepens, and we begin to be filled with acceptance, joy, peace and love.

There are many ways to meditate. But at the heart of them all is mindfulness.

Fear keeps us focused on the past or worried about the future. If we can acknowledge our fear, we can realize that right now we are okay.

Awareness is the basis, or what you might call the "support," of the mind. It is steady and unchanging, like the pole to which the flag of ordinary consciousness is attached.

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.

We can learn to be present with whatever is happening in our lives, and in this way, we can begin to transform our relationship to difficulty.

Meditation is not about trying to change ourselves. Meditation is about being aware of what is.

When mindfulness and concentration are strong, insight into the three characteristics naturally unfolds.

Every time we become aware of a thought, as opposed to being lost in a thought, we experience that opening of the mind.

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

Breathing in, there is only the present moment. Breathing out, it is a wonderful moment.

The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.

The awareness that you are here, right now, is the ultimate fact.

The practice of mindfulness is the practice of being alive in the present moment.

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

In the spiritual world there are no time divisions such as the past, present and future; for they have contracted themselves into a single moment of the present where life quivers in its true sense.

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

The past is gone, the future is not yet here. Live in the present moment with awareness.

If you love someone, the greatest gift you can give them is your presence.

What you are is what you have been. What you'll be is what you do now.

The true purpose of Zen is to see things as they are, to observe things as they are, and to let everything go as it goes.

Through continuous mindfulness practice, the true nature of physical and mental phenomena becomes clear.

This is the real secret of life -- to be completely engaged with what you are doing in the here and now. And instead of calling it work, realize it is play.

Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.

There are only two days in the year that nothing can be done. One is called yesterday and the other is called tomorrow, so today is the right day to love, believe, do and mostly live.

Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor.

Every moment is a fresh beginning. Every breath is a new chance.

Mindfulness isn't difficult, we just need to remember to do it.

Our task is to learn to see clearly what is happening in each moment, rather than be lost in our reactions and judgments.

Zen does not confuse spirituality with thinking about God while one is peeling potatoes. Zen spirituality is just to peel the potatoes.

The things that matter most in our lives are not fantastic or grand. They are the moments when we touch one another.

Mindfulness is being aware of what's going on, not trying to control what's going on.

Mindfulness is attention to life, and life itself is sacred.

Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.

The practice of mindfulness leads naturally to concentration. Concentration leads naturally to wisdom.

The technique of self-observation is the technique of observing the reality about oneself at the experiential level.

Smile, breathe, and go slowly.

When you note pain, you are not trying to make it go away. You are trying to understand its true nature.

Mindfulness is the key to the present moment. Without it we cannot see the world clearly, and we cannot make the wisest choices in our lives.

Each breath is a new beginning, a fresh opportunity to awaken.

Through our eyes, the universe is perceiving itself. Through our ears, the universe is listening to its harmonies. We are the witnesses through which the universe becomes conscious of its glory, of its magnificence.

The real purpose of Zen is to see things as they are, to observe things as they are, and to let everything go as it goes.

Awareness is like the sun. When it shines on things, they are transformed.

Treat every moment as your last. It is not preparation for something else.

Meditation is the ultimate mobile device; you can use it anywhere, anytime, unobtrusively.

Moment after moment, completely devote yourself to listening to your inner voice.

Observe the reality as it is, not as you wish it to be.

Mindfulness is the quality and power of mind that is aware of what's happening—without judgment and without interference.

Waking up this morning, I smile. Twenty-four brand new hours are before me. I vow to live fully in each moment.

When walking, just walk. When sitting, just sit. Above all, don't wobble.

Mindfulness helps us get better at seeing the difference between what's happening and the stories we tell ourselves about what's happening.

Awareness is always with us. We don't need to create it or achieve it - we just need to recognize what's already there.

The quality of every moment depends on the state of our minds.

In the moment of pure noting, there is no self - only the knowing and the known.

One moment can change a day, one day can change a life, and one life can change the world.

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

The miracle is not to walk on water. The miracle is to walk on the green earth, dwelling deeply in the present moment and feeling truly alive.

No valid plans for the future can be made by those who have no capacity for living now.

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