The mind itself is the maker of all happiness and misery; yet beings do not understand this and blame external conditions.

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

If I had any position, I would thereby have a flaw. But since I have no position, I alone am without flaw.

The true path is not difficult; just avoid picking and choosing.

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.

Real happiness lies within. It cannot be found in external objects or achievements.

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

The entire path is a path of self-responsibility. Nobody else can walk it for you.

The lamp of wisdom burns constantly, illuminating the nature of mind.

Don't try to push away the darkness. Just light a lamp. The darkness will disappear by itself.

The problem is not the problem; the problem is your attitude about the problem.

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

The Buddha's path is not about becoming somebody different but about becoming more and more who you really are.

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

The truth you believe and cling to makes you unavailable to hear anything new.

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

Fear is the cheapest room in the house. I would like to see you living in better conditions.

Recognize the emptiness of all phenomena, but do not become attached to emptiness itself.

Conquer anger with non-anger. Conquer evil with good. Conquer stinginess with giving. Conquer deceit with truth.

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

When we attempt to exercise power or control over someone else, we cannot avoid giving that person the very same power or control over us.

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

The more we understand the nature of our mind, the more we understand the nature of our world.

Ethical conduct is not a constraint upon our freedom but a condition of our freedom.

Compassion is not a relationship between the healer and the wounded. It's a relationship between equals.

Because you are alive, everything is possible.

When I run from suffering, it follows me. When I face suffering with equanimity, it runs from me.

When we understand that peace is not dependent on external conditions, we can find it in the midst of any circumstance.

The grass is greener where you water it.

The nature of mind is clearer than the sky, yet we keep looking elsewhere.

You will not be punished for your anger; you will be punished by your anger.

Understanding means throwing away your knowledge.

Compassion is the radicalism of our time.

The most important thing in life is to know death is coming and to prepare for it.

Reality is only a Rorschach ink-blot, you know.

If you cannot find the truth right where you are, where else do you expect to find it?

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

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

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

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

The measure of success in spiritual life is how peaceful you are.

We practice to learn how to let go, not how to increase our holding on to things.

Forgiveness is letting go of the hope that the past could have been any different.

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

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

The greatest wisdom is seeing through appearances.

Anxiety and excitement are the same emotion. The only difference is our attitude toward the experience.

When you let go of trying to control everything, you can relax and enjoy life.

True freedom is a freedom from the tyranny of our own thoughts and afflictive emotions.

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

To see directly is to be free of hope and fear. Hope and fear are like a cloud before the sun.

The Buddha's teaching is not about belief but about investigation, not about accepting but about examining.

The path to enlightenment is not a path at all. It is a realization that where you are is where you have always been.

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

The present moment is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive, you will see it.

The best way to control people is to encourage them to be mischievous. Then they will be in control in a wider sense.

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

The purpose of our lives is to be happy, and happiness is found in benefiting others.

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

Our true nature is like a diamond - pure, brilliant, and indestructible. No matter how much dirt covers it, its essential nature remains unchanged.