The art of living... is neither careless drifting on the one hand nor fearful clinging to the past on the other. It consists in being sensitive to each moment, in regarding it as utterly new and unique, in having the mind open and wholly receptive.

The present moment is the only moment available to us, and it is the door to all moments.

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

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

Sensations are not your enemy. They are your teacher. Through observing them, you understand the truth of existence.

Each moment of mindfulness is a moment of purification.

The four foundations of mindfulness are not separate practices but different aspects of the same practice of clear awareness.

When we get too caught up in the busyness of the world, we lose connection with one another – and ourselves.

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

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

Rejoicing in ordinary things is not sentimental or trite. It actually takes guts.

When you see forms or hear sounds fully engaging body-and-mind, you intuit dharma intimately.

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

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

The only way to experience truth is to look within, to observe oneself.

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

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

Concentration is a cornerstone of mindfulness practice. Your mindfulness will only be as robust as your capacity to ground your attention in the present moment.

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.

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

Mindfulness is being aware of what is happening right now, without wishing it were different.

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

The difference between being caught in thoughts and being mindful of thoughts is like the difference between being in a movie and watching a movie.

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

Every sensation shares the same characteristic - arising, passing. Arising, passing. Learn to observe objectively.

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

When we look directly at our thoughts, they dissolve like bubbles in water.

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

Life is available only in the present moment.

The mind can go in a thousand directions, but on this beautiful path, I walk in peace. With each step, the wind blows. With each step, a flower blooms.

The idea of Zen is to catch life as it flows. There is nothing extraordinary or mysterious about Zen. I raise my hand; I take a book from the other side of the desk; I hear the boys playing ball outside my window; I see the clouds blown away beyond the neighboring wood: all these I do in Zen.

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

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.

Who would then deny that when I am sipping tea in my tearoom I am swallowing the whole universe with it and that this very moment of my lifting the bowl to my lips is eternity itself transcending time and space?

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

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

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

The past is just a memory. The future is just a dream. Be here now.

The practice of mindfulness is simple: whatever you experience, you observe and note it.

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

Each moment of clear seeing is a moment of freedom from the illusion of permanence, satisfaction, and self.

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

The whole path of mindfulness is about letting go. We let go of our attachment to our views, our attachment to our opinions, our attachment to our ideas.

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

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

Mindfulness is not just bare attention but wise attention that leads to understanding and insight.

The more precisely you note, the more clearly you understand. The more clearly you understand, the stronger your insight becomes.

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