Zen is a way of life, not a theory or a piece of knowledge to be stored away in our minds.

The three characteristics - impermanence, suffering, and non-self - are not philosophical concepts but aspects of experience to be directly observed.

True peace comes not from controlling the world, but from letting go of control.

Enlightenment is not the end of change but the end of resistance to change.

Wisdom is not something we have to strive to acquire. Rather, wisdom arises naturally as we open our hearts to the truth of what is.

True peace is found not in the absence of experience but in the clear seeing of all experience.

Change is possible because there is nothing inherently permanent about our disturbing emotions.

The teaching of the Buddha is based on two truths: conventional truth and ultimate truth. Without understanding the relationship between these two, the deeper meaning of the Buddha's teaching cannot be understood.

We don't set out to save the world; we set out to wonder how other people are doing and to reflect on how our actions affect other people's hearts.

You are the master of your own mind. You can be your best friend or your worst enemy.

The dharma is not about collecting more beliefs but about becoming free from the power of belief itself.

The root of suffering is not in the world outside us but in our own minds.

Nothing we see or hear is perfect. But right there in the imperfection is perfect reality.

Right practice is steady practice. Whether you feel lazy or diligent, just keep practicing.

The Buddha's teaching is not a philosophical system but a practical guide to living.

The more clearly you see the arising and passing of phenomena, the less you will be attached to them.

When one sees with wisdom that all phenomena are empty of inherent existence, one is liberated from suffering.

When the heart is still, it can be kind. When the mind is still, it can see clearly.

The contradiction so puzzling to the ordinary way of thinking comes from the fact that we have to use language to communicate our inner experience, which in its very nature transcends linguistics.

For things to reveal themselves to us, we need to be ready to abandon our views about them.

Altruism is not a luxury, it is a necessity for the survival of humanity.

If you want to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be miserable, expect something in return.

The root of all suffering is ignorance. The antidote to ignorance is wisdom that realizes emptiness.

The more you understand yourself, the more you understand the world.

The movement of love is what creates the beauty in our lives.

Man suffers only because he takes seriously what the gods made for fun.

The obstacle is the path.

The secret of happiness is to want what you already have.

Know the rules well, so you can break them effectively.

Give the ones you love wings to fly, roots to come back, and reasons to stay.

The menu is not the meal.

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

The greatest obstacle to connecting with our joy is resentment.

There is no way to happiness - happiness is the way.

The truth of suffering is not to be feared but to be understood through direct observation.

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.

If you want to understand suffering, you must look into the situation at hand. The teachings say that wherever a problem arises it must be settled right there.

Vipassana is the art of living. Not the art of escaping.

Zen is not necessarily against words, but it is well aware of their limitations.

If you want to know your past life, look at your present condition. If you want to know your future life, look at your present actions.

Nothing ever goes away until it has taught us what we need to know.

The nature of everything is illusory and ephemeral, those with dualistic perception regard suffering as happiness, like they who lick the honey from a razor's edge.

The door of your heart can only be opened from the inside.

The spiritual journey begins with the recognition that beneath our surface happiness there lies a deep inner pain.

The essence of Buddhism is not a belief system but a systematic investigation of our experience.

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

If we learn to open our hearts, anyone, including the people who drive us crazy, can be our teacher.

To be fully alive, fully human, and completely awake is to be continually thrown out of the nest.

Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.

Don't be afraid of the future. The future is good.

The silence between the notes is as important as the notes themselves.

The most important thing is to enjoy your life - to be happy. This is the goal of Buddhist practice.

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

Where ignorance is our master, there is no possibility of real peace.

Looking for peace is like looking for a turtle with a mustache: you won't be able to find it. But when your heart is ready, peace will come looking for you.

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

Just to be alive is enough.

Understanding means throwing away your knowledge.

Change is the nature of every phenomenon. Accept this truth and you will live a happy life.

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