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

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

The most important factor in achieving happiness is the mind. Happiness and suffering are mental states and therefore depend on the mind.

In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's there are few.

The superior person is like water, bringing benefit to all without competing.

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

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

Generosity generates its own enthusiasm. We don't have to force ourselves to be generous; we just need to start.

Sometimes one creates a dynamic impression by saying something, and sometimes one creates as significant an impression by remaining silent.

To see the truth, do not be for or against. The struggle between for and against is the mind's worst disease.

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

The first step toward faith is to admit that we don't know everything.

Life is like a cup of tea. It's all in how you make it.

Each decision we make, each action we take, is born out of an intention.

The world is its own magic.

Mindfulness helps us get better at seeing the difference between what's happening and the stories we tell ourselves about what's happening.

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

The mind is like water. When it's turbulent, it's difficult to see. When it's calm, everything becomes clear.

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

When dharma fills your body and mind, you realize that something is missing.

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

Liberation is found in the practice, not in the theory.

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

Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values.

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

To understand everything is to forgive everything.

Although all phenomena are empty of inherent existence, they function perfectly well.

The trick is to keep exploring and not bail out, even when we find out that something is not what we thought.

Much of spiritual life is self-acceptance, maybe all of it.

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

To live is enough.

The greatest obstacle to connecting with our joy is resentment.

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

When we get too caught up in the busyness of the world, we lose connection with one another – and ourselves.

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 person who clings to nothing of the past, present and future, who has no attachment and no aversion, has no conceptual imprints.

Muddy water is best cleared by leaving it alone.

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

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

Through continuous mindfulness practice, the true nature of physical and mental phenomena becomes clear.

Equanimity is not indifference. It is the balanced mind that sees things clearly without reaction.

The more precisely you note, the more clearly you understand. The more clearly you understand, the stronger your insight becomes.

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

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

The everyday practice is simply to develop complete acceptance and openness to all situations and emotions.

Compassion is not mere sentiment but a powerful force that can transform both ourselves and others.

Mindfulness is being aware of what's going on, not trying to control what's going on.

When you begin to see that your enemy is suffering, that is the beginning of insight.

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.

The five aggregates are not a theoretical model but a description of lived experience to be investigated through mindfulness.

Share your knowledge. It is a way to achieve immortality.

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

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

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

The path is not about moving from one place to another. It's about recognizing where we already are.

Though the view should be as vast as the sky, keep your conduct as fine as barley flour.

There is no need to have a deep understanding of Zen. Even though you read much Zen literature, you must read each sentence with a fresh mind.

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

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.

Trying to define yourself is like trying to bite your own teeth.