The things that matter most in our lives are not fantastic or grand. They are the moments when we touch one another.

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

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.

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

Insight knowledge comes from direct experience, not from intellectual understanding.

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

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

The greatest wisdom is seeing through appearances.

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

Suffering is not the end of the story; it is the middle of the story.

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

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

Every thought, every word, and every action leaves an imprint on our mind.

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

The one who grasps at existence suffers in samsara, while the one who grasps at non-existence will find no liberation.

A good friend who points out mistakes and imperfections and rebukes evil is to be respected as if he reveals a secret of hidden treasure.

As surely as there is a voyage away, there is a journey home.

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

The path of awakening is not about becoming who you are. Rather it is about unbecoming who you are not.

The essence of the spiritual journey is the uncovering of what is always already present.

The practice of ethics is not about following rules but about developing inner purity and freedom.

Change is the nature of every phenomenon. Accept this truth and you will live a happy life.

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

The more we care for the happiness of others, the greater our own sense of well-being becomes.

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

The purpose of life is to be happy, to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate. It is not to be well known, cited, or powerful.

The Dhamma is not a collection of doctrinal formulas but a path leading to direct insight into the nature of reality.

The deepest happiness comes from having an enduring sense of purpose, one that gives our lives meaning beyond the endless pursuit of pleasure and success.

The grass is greener where you water it.

The spiritual journey is not about heaven and finally getting to a place that's really swell.

It is never too late to turn on the light.

When you understand one thing through and through, you understand everything. When you try to understand everything, you will not understand anything.

The mind is everything. What you think you become.

The path of awakening is not about becoming who we think we should be, but about unbecoming who we are not.

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

The roots of all goodness lie in the soil of appreciation for goodness.

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

Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship.

Craving and aversion are the roots of suffering. Observe them with equanimity.

The present moment is the only moment available to us, and it is the door to all moments.

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

Long is the night to him who is awake; long is a mile to him who is tired; long is life to the foolish who do not know the true law.

The ultimate revolution is the spiritual revolution, where we learn to see reality as it truly is.

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

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

Just as a snake sheds its skin, we must shed our past over and over again.

The practice of patience guards us against losing our presence of mind.

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.

Compassion is not something we develop. It arises naturally as we see the truth of what is.

When the heart is still, it can be kind. When the mind is still, it can see clearly.

Just to be alive is enough.

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

When the mind is ready to understand, the truth will come to meet it.

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

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

When you understand that all phenomena are impermanent, unsatisfactory, and non-self, attachment naturally falls away.

The real secret of the arts: always be a beginner.

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.

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

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