Do not mistake understanding for realization, and do not mistake realization for liberation.

Happiness is found in the simplest of things. It is not in the things you own, but in the love you share.

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

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.

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

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

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

The Buddha's teaching is a teaching of self-reliance, of being one's own master, one's own refuge.

Problems that remain persistently insoluble should always be suspected as questions asked in the wrong way.

Sometimes one creates a dynamic impression by saying something, and sometimes one creates as significant an impression by remaining silent.

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

The force of the kindness of others is so strong, we can't possibly measure it.

We can learn the art of fierce compassion - redefining strength, deconstructing isolation and renewing a sense of community, practicing letting go of rigid us-vs.-them thinking.

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

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

Awareness is always with us. We don't need to create it or achieve it - we just need to recognize what's already there.

Study how water flows in a valley stream, smoothly and freely between the rocks.

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

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

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

We can learn to be present with whatever is happening in our lives, and in this way, we can begin to transform our relationship to difficulty.

The treasure house within you contains everything, and you are free to use it. You don't need to seek outside.

To see directly is to be free of hope and fear. Hope and fear are like a cloud before the sun.

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

Just as treasures are uncovered from the earth, so virtue appears from good deeds, and wisdom appears from a pure and peaceful mind.

There is no way to happiness - happiness is the way.

The essence of Buddhism is not a belief system but a systematic investigation of our experience.

There is no difference at all between samsara and nirvana. There is no difference at all between nirvana and samsara.

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

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

The practice is not about achieving special states but about seeing ordinary experience with extraordinary clarity.

The only way to experience truth is to look within, to observe oneself.

Knowledge must be stabilized by meditation. Without meditation, knowledge is like a child in battle.

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

The practice of mindfulness is the practice of being alive in the present moment.

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

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

You are the master of your own mind. You can be your best friend or your worst enemy.

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

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

The most important thing in life is to know death is coming and to prepare for it.

The secret of happiness is to want what you already have.

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.

Drop by drop is the water pot filled. Likewise, the wise man, gathering it little by little, fills himself with good.

No valid plans for the future can be made by those who have no capacity for living now.

Not by hatred is hatred conquered, but by love alone. This is an eternal law.

The more you understand yourself, the more you understand the world.

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 highest truth cannot be taught except through the conventional truth.

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

The entire path is a path of self-responsibility. Nobody else can walk it for you.

External phenomena are like a dream, whatever appears is not real. Recognize the nature of dream-like phenomena to be dream-like.

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

The root of suffering is attachment.

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

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

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.

True happiness is not about getting rid of all our problems, but about changing our relationship to them.

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