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

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

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

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.

Give the ones you love wings to fly, roots to come back, and reasons to stay.

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

The more you suffer the deeper grows your character, and with the deepening of your character you read the more penetratingly into the secrets of life.

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

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

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

The way we look at the world is the way the world looks.

Dependent origination is not a theory about the origin of the world but a teaching that shows how suffering originates in dependence on our own mental processes.

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.

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

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

The goal of Buddhist practice is not to escape from the world but to transform our relationship with it.

The world is its own magic.

Enlightenment is not the end of change but the end of resistance to change.

The seed of suffering in you may be strong, but don't wait until you have no more suffering before allowing yourself to be happy.

The root of happiness is altruism — the wish to be of service to others.

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

For whom emptiness is possible, everything is possible. For whom emptiness is not possible, nothing is possible.

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

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

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.

Forgiveness is not a moral issue. It's a power issue. When we hold onto grievance and resentment, we are giving our power away.

The affairs of the world will go on forever. Do not delay the practice of meditation.

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

When we recognize that our thoughts are just thoughts, we can choose whether or not to follow them.

The quieter you become, the more you can hear.

The mind is everything. What you think, you become.

Altruism is not a luxury, it is a necessity for the survival of humanity.

Holding onto anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.

Start from where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.

Every day, think as you wake up, today I am fortunate to be alive, I have a precious human life, I am not going to waste it.

The path to liberation requires both individual effort and the support of the spiritual community.

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

When you love someone, you have to have trust and confidence. Love without trust is not yet love.

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

Buddhist practice is not to eliminate life's problems but to grow with them patiently and with compassion.

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

We need the courage to learn from our experience and the wisdom to be willing to change and grow.

Recognize the emptiness of all phenomena, but do not become attached to emptiness itself.

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

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

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

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

You are your own teacher. Looking for teachers can't solve your own doubts. Investigate yourself to find the truth - inside, not outside.

The law of nature is the law of cause and effect. As you sow, so shall you reap.

Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.

The greatest obstacle to connecting with our joy is resentment.

The true person is not anyone in particular. But like the deep blue color of the limitless sky, it is everyone, everywhere in the world.

Without darkness, there is no light. Without the path, there is no arrival.

Compassion is not just about being kind to others. It's about being kind to ourselves as well.

Your own treasure house contains everything you need; why search outside?

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

The truth of suffering is not to be feared but to be understood through direct observation.

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.