The more we understand impermanence, the more we understand that we can't hold on to anything.

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

The development of wisdom requires both study and practice, both learning and direct experience.

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

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

Expectations are the thieves of joy.

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.

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

Since all things are empty of inherent existence, anything is possible. If things had inherent existence, nothing would be possible.

The root of suffering is attachment.

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

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

Time passes unhindered. When we make ourselves better, we make the world better.

To live fully is to let go and die with each step.

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

If you see certainty in that which is uncertain, you are bound to suffer.

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

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

The Buddha taught that wealth does not bring happiness and security. The pursuit of wealth is a matter of living in balance.

The root of suffering is resisting the certainty that no matter what the circumstances, uncertainty is all we truly have.

Don't take life too seriously. No one gets out alive anyway.

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

Mindfulness is the key to the present moment. Without it we cannot see the world clearly, and we cannot make the wisest choices in our lives.

The past is just a memory. The future is just a dream. Be here now.

The ocean does not reject any water; therefore it is great. The mountain does not select its stones; therefore it is great.

Whatever is happening is the path to enlightenment.

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

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

The nature of all things is like a magical illusion, a mirage, a dream, a reflection of the moon in water.

The period of greatest gain in knowledge and experience is the most difficult period in one's life.

The precious pot containing my riches becomes my teacher in the very moment it breaks.

Be happy at the moment, that's enough. Each moment is all we need, not more.

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

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

The goal of the Buddhist path is not to add something to our existence but to discover something that has been there all along.

This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness.

Every small positive change we make in ourselves repays us in confidence in the future.

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.

The knowledge of dissolution comes when you see both the noting mind and noted object dissolving together.

Understanding means throwing away your knowledge.

Fear is a natural reaction to moving closer to the truth.

The six realms of existence are like a dream, why build a prison for yourself?

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

A man is not called wise because he talks and talks again; but if he is peaceful, loving and fearless then he is in truth called wise.

Happiness is a skill that can be developed like playing an instrument or learning to read.

The practice of Buddhism is fundamentally a practice of expanding our happiness and diminishing our suffering.

The heart of one who practices is like the earth. No matter what they throw on it, the earth remains unchanged.

Time passes unhindered. When we make mistakes, we cannot turn the clock back and try again. All we can do is use the present well.

The highest mantra is to be without deception. The highest medicine is to have few desires. The highest meditation is not to be attached.

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

True happiness is not found through the multiplication of desires but through their simplification.

When you note pain, you are not trying to make it go away. You are trying to understand its true nature.

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

Meditation is like catching a fish. If you try to catch it quickly, you'll miss it. If you have patience and know how to wait, the fish will come.

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

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.

External seeking only leads to exhaustion. When you imitate others, you lose your own authenticity.

The Buddha never taught a sectarian religion; he taught Dhamma - the way to liberation - which is universal.

Misery ceases to exist when we stop reacting to sensations.

We think that the point is to pass the test or overcome the problem, but the truth is that things don't really get solved. They come together and they fall apart. Then they come together again and fall apart again. It's just like that. The healing comes from letting there be room for all of this to happen: room for grief, for relief, for misery, for joy.