Our true nature is like a diamond - pure, brilliant, and indestructible. No matter how much dirt covers it, its essential nature remains unchanged.

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.

Wisdom and compassion must be developed equally and harmoniously.

Compassion is the radicalism of our time.

Hope is important because it can make the present moment less difficult to bear. If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear a hardship today.

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

The truth you believe and cling to makes you unavailable to hear anything new.

Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.

The essence of Buddhist practice is to bring everything onto the path. Every experience becomes an opportunity for awakening.

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.

Peace and negativity cannot coexist just as light and darkness cannot coexist.

Letting go gives us freedom, and freedom is the only condition for happiness.

Self-awareness is the key to freedom. The more we understand ourselves, the more we understand how to be free.

The mind is the forerunner of all things. Our present life is the result of our past thoughts, and our future life will be the result of our present thoughts.

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

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

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

Freedom is not found in the absence of difficulty, but in our relationship to it.

The ultimate source of happiness is not money and power, but warm-heartedness.

When mindfulness becomes continuous, the distinction between the observer and the observed begins to break down.

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

The quieter you become, the more you can hear.

It is never too late to turn on the light.

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

The defilements of the mind are temporary visitors. Pure awareness is your true home.

Your mind is like a garden. Your thoughts are the seeds. You can grow flowers or you can grow weeds.

Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.

The world is its own magic.

The past is for learning from, not for living in.

In the gap between thoughts, nonconceptual wisdom shines continuously.

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

If you let go a little, you will have a little peace. If you let go a lot, you will have a lot of peace. If you let go completely, you will have complete peace.

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

Suffering comes from our resistance to what is. Peace comes from our acceptance of what is.

Nothing we see or hear is perfect. But right there in the imperfection is perfect reality.

Not knowing how near the truth is, we seek it far away.

In the end, only three things matter: how much you loved, how gently you lived, and how gracefully you let go of things not meant for you.

The essence of Buddhist practice is to reduce our selfishness and to work for the benefit of others.

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

Enlightenment is not a state of perfection but of authenticity.

Wisdom is not about accumulating knowledge, but about seeing through all knowledge.

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

You will not be punished for your anger; you will be punished by your anger.

The three characteristics - impermanence, suffering, and non-self - are not philosophical concepts but aspects of experience to be directly observed.

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

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

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

The nature of life is change. The nature of change is painful. The nature of pain is temporary.

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

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

The best way to control people is to encourage them to be mischievous. Then they will be in control in a wider sense.

The essence of bravery is being without self-deception.

The willingness to empty ourselves and then seek our true nature is an expression of great and courageous love.

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

When you let go of trying to control everything, you can relax and enjoy life.

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

The obstacle is the path.

My father is the intrinsic awareness, Samantabhadra. My mother is the ultimate sphere of reality, Samantabhadri. I belong to the caste of non-duality of these two.