The Buddha's teachings are not about abandoning our lives but about bringing the fullness of our attention to our lives.

The greatest achievement is selflessness. The greatest worth is self-mastery.

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

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

The most difficult times for many of us are the ones we give ourselves.

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

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

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

The measure of success in spiritual life is how peaceful you are.

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

If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.

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

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

My religion is to live and die without regret.

In my youth I studied, in my prime I practiced, now all my doubts are cleared.

Equanimity is not indifference. It is the balanced state of mind.

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

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

The development of wisdom does not occur in isolation but requires the cultivation of the entire Noble Eightfold Path.

The essence of bravery is being without self-deception.

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

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

True happiness is born of letting go of what is unnecessary.

Mindfulness is attention to life, and life itself is sacred.

The instant you speak about a thing, you miss the mark.

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

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

Enlightenment is the realization that we were never really separate from one another or from all of life.

The goal is not to be better than the other man, but your previous self.

The Buddha's teaching challenges us to master the art of living, to live in a way that leads to the extinction of suffering.

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

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

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

The more you understand, the more you love; the more you love, the more you understand.

The contradiction so puzzling to the ordinary way of thinking comes from the fact that we have to use language to communicate our inner experience, which in its very nature transcends linguistics.

A flower falls, even though we love it; and a weed grows, even though we do not love it.

Understanding means throwing away your knowledge.

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

Peace is not found by changing the world, but by changing your attitude to the world.

The path to liberation requires both understanding and practice, both pariyatti and patipatti.

When mindfulness and concentration are strong, insight into the three characteristics naturally unfolds.

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

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

The best way to solve a problem is to help someone else solve their problem.

The path to liberation is through understanding the true nature of mind and matter through direct observation.

The sign of wisdom is constant joy.

Love is not a feeling. It's a capability.

Neither from itself nor from another, nor from both, nor without a cause, does anything whatever, anywhere arise.

The heart of the path is quite simple. No need for long explanations. Give up clinging to love and hate, just rest with things as they are.

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

The Four Noble Truths are not mere doctrinal propositions but a framework for understanding and transforming our lives.

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

Sensations are not your enemy. They are your teacher. Through observing them, you understand the truth of existence.

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

If you want to climb a mountain, begin at the top.

The world is its own magic.

If you cannot find the truth right where you are, where else do you expect to find it?

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

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

To what shall I compare this life? It is like a boat that left at dawn, leaving no trace.