Whatever we do, we should see ourselves. Reading books doesn't show us our defilements. Watch yourself. Watch your mind.

The practice is not about achieving special states but about seeing ordinary experience with extraordinary clarity.

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.

Life is nothing but a continuous chain of sensations. Pleasant or unpleasant, observe them objectively.

Mindfulness helps you go home to the present. And every time you go there and recognize a condition of happiness that you have, happiness comes.

Every day, think as you wake up, today I am fortunate to be alive, I have a precious human life, I am not going to waste it.

The perfect moment is this one, not the one you're waiting for.

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?

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

Our basic nature is pure awareness that simply cognizes experience. Everything else is temporary and adventitious.

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

The future is completely open, and we are writing it moment to moment.

Every morning we are born again. What we do today is what matters most.

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

Time passes unhindered. When we make mistakes, we cannot turn the clock back and try again. All we can do is use the present well.

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

Each moment of mindfulness is a moment of purification.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Life is available only in the present moment.

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

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

Mindfulness is the gentle effort to be continuously present with experience.

Meditation is not an escape from life but a way to fully engage with life.

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

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 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.

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

In the spring, hundreds of flowers; in autumn, a harvest moon; in the summer, a refreshing breeze; in winter, snow will accompany you. If useless things do not hang in your mind, any season is a good season for you.

Past thoughts are traceless, clear, and empty. Future thoughts are unborn and fresh. The present moment abides naturally and unconstructed.

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

Smile, breathe, and go slowly.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

Every experience is an opportunity to practice awareness.

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

Impermanence, suffering, and non-self are not philosophical concepts but realities to be directly perceived through mindfulness practice.

The past is for learning from, not for living in.

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 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.

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

When you do something, you should burn yourself completely, like a good bonfire, leaving no trace of yourself.