You are an aperture through which the universe is looking at and exploring itself.

Life is glorious, but life is also wretched. It is both. Appreciating the gloriousness inspires us, encourages us, cheers us up, gives us a bigger perspective, energizes us. We feel connected. But if that's all that's happening, we get arrogant and start to look down on others, and there is a sense of making ourselves a big deal and being really serious about it, wanting it to be like that forever. The gloriousness becomes tinged by craving and addiction. On the other hand, wretchedness--life's painful aspect--softens us up considerably. Knowing pain is a very important ingredient of being there for another person.

The force of the kindness of others is so strong, we can't possibly measure it.

The purpose of meditation is to gain right understanding of the true nature of mental and physical phenomena.

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

We should find perfect existence through imperfect existence.

Wisdom arises when you see the true characteristics of phenomena through direct experience.

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

Trees, mountains, and vines all exist in nature according to their own truth. They are born and die following their nature. They remain this way because that's what they are. They don't practice meditation or do anything special.

The way we look at the world is the way the world looks.

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

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

The purpose of meditation is not to create a new state of mind, but to recognize what is already present.

The truth of Zen is the truth of life, and life means to live, to move, to act, not merely to reflect.

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 root of happiness is altruism — the wish to be of service to others.

The greatest wisdom is seeing through appearances.

Wisdom and compassion must be developed equally and harmoniously.

When you walk in the mist, you get wet.

The Buddha taught us to leave alone the things that don't lead to awakening.

Silence is so much more productive of wisdom and clarity than thinking.

Let none find fault with others; let none see the omissions and commissions of others. But let one see one's own acts, done and undone.

Peace is within oneself to be found in the same place as agitation and suffering. It is not found in a forest or on a hilltop, nor is it given by a teacher.

Enlightenment is not a state of perfection but of authenticity.

What Zen wants us to do is to acquire an entirely new point of view whereby to look into the mysteries of life and the secrets of nature.

Understanding at the intellectual level is not enough. There must be experience at the actual level.

The purpose of our lives is to be happy.

If it isn't good, let it die. If it doesn't die, make it good.

Misery ceases to exist when we stop reacting to sensations.

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

The Buddha's teachings are not a religion, but a science of mind.

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

The mind is everything. What you think you become.

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

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

Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.

The nature of mind is not something we need to achieve - it's something we need to recognize.

In true dialogue, both sides are willing to change.

Face your own anger and you will be free from anger. Face your own fears and you will be free from fear.

Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

People have a hard time letting go of their suffering. Out of a fear of the unknown, they prefer suffering that is familiar.

The nature of the mind is like the sky, and our thoughts, emotions, and experiences are like clouds passing through it.

True love is not for the faint-hearted.

The only things that are truly mine are my actions and their results.

External phenomena are like a dream, whatever appears is not real. Recognize the nature of dream-like phenomena to be dream-like.

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

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

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

To be attached to a thing means that mind and the thing meet and grow into each other.

The biggest prison is the one we build in our own mind.

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.

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

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

The mind is intrinsically empty. It's empty of all that we perceive as being intrinsically "me" and "mine."

Silence is sometimes the best answer.

The treasure house within you contains everything, and you are free to use it. You don't need to seek outside.

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.

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

If you want to know your past life, look into your present condition; if you want to know your future life, look into your present actions.