Just as true humor is laughter at oneself, true humanity is knowledge of oneself.

When we see the nature of the mind, we see that we are not our thoughts.

Dependent origination is not a theory about the origin of the world but a teaching that shows how suffering originates in dependence on our own mental processes.

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

People take different roads seeking fulfillment and happiness. Just because they're not on your road doesn't mean they've gotten lost.

The true person is not anyone in particular. But like the deep blue color of the limitless sky, it is everyone, everywhere in the world.

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

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

The world is its own magic.

Work diligently. Diligently. Work patiently and persistently. Patiently and persistently. And you're bound to be successful. Bound to be successful.

The Buddha's teaching is a teaching of self-reliance, of being one's own master, one's own refuge.

Like a fine flower, beautiful to look at but without scent, fine words are fruitless in a man who does not act in accordance with them.

Better to have one moment of genuine meditation than to perform religious activities for a thousand years.

Don't think that only sitting with the eyes closed is practice. If you do think this way, then quickly change your thinking.

The essence of Buddhist practice is to reduce our selfishness and to work for the benefit of others.

Enlightenment is not about becoming something special, but about realizing what we already are.

Love is the wish that others be happy, and compassion is the wish that they be free from suffering.

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.

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

Every step on the path must be with the understanding of anicca - impermanence. This is the essence of the teaching.

The practice of vipassana is the study of the self. When you study physical and mental phenomena, you are studying the truth about yourself.

The essence of Buddhist practice is to bring everything onto the path. Every experience becomes an opportunity for awakening.

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

When concentration is developed, wisdom arises. When wisdom arises, one becomes disenchanted with the five aggregates.

When another person makes you suffer, it is because he suffers deeply within himself, and his suffering is spilling over. He does not need punishment; he needs help.

When you talk, you are only repeating what you already know. But if you listen, you may learn something new.

When we recognize that our thoughts are just thoughts, we can choose whether or not to follow them.

The development of insight is gradual, but the realization of truth is sudden.

Peace and negativity cannot coexist just as light and darkness cannot coexist.

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

Zen proposes its solution by directly appealing to facts of personal experience and not to book-knowledge.

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

Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.

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

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

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

The key to happiness is inner peace. The greatest obstacles to inner peace are disturbing emotions such as anger, attachment, fear and suspicion.

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

The defilements of the mind are temporary visitors. Pure awareness is your true home.

The essence of meditation is not something complicated or exotic. It is simply taking a break from our habitual patterns.

Your mind is like a garden. Your thoughts are the seeds. You can grow flowers or you can grow weeds.

Right View is not just a matter of intellectual understanding but of seeing things as they really are.

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

The mind creates the abyss, and the heart crosses it.

The seed of suffering in you may be strong, but don't wait until you have no more suffering before allowing yourself to be happy.

Emptiness is not nothingness. Emptiness is the space of possibility.

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

For whom emptiness is possible, everything is possible. For whom emptiness is not possible, nothing is possible.

If you want to find peace, then look at that point where you find you're dissatisfied and investigate what's really going on.

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

The mind is like a room with many windows. Open them all and let the fresh air in.

The affairs of the world will go on forever. Do not delay the practice of meditation.

Study the Buddha's teaching which is present in every moment.

Do not follow the ideas of others, but learn to listen to the voice within yourself.

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

By understanding emptiness, one understands all phenomena. Without understanding emptiness, one understands nothing.

The willingness to empty ourselves and then seek our true nature is an expression of great and courageous love.

The real meaning of enlightenment is to gaze with undimmed eyes on all darkness.

The restraint of the senses is not a matter of suppression but of wise attention to our experience.

The mind that notes and the object that is noted are both impermanent. Understanding this leads to liberation.