True peace is found not in the absence of experience but in the clear seeing of all experience.

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

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

The great gift of meditation is that it returns us to the simplicity of our own being.

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

The essence of meditation is not something complicated or exotic. It is simply taking a break from our habitual patterns.

People have a hard time letting go of their suffering. Out of a fear of the unknown, they prefer suffering that is familiar.

Don't take life too seriously. No one gets out alive anyway.

The development of insight is gradual, but the realization of truth is sudden.

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

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

When you plant lettuce, if it does not grow well, you don't blame the lettuce. You look for reasons it is not doing well. It may need fertilizer, or more water, or less sun. You never blame the lettuce.

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

To understand everything is to forgive everything.

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

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

This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness.

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

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

Zen is a way of life, not a theory or a piece of knowledge to be stored away in our minds.

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

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

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

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

Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is relax.

The quieter you become, the more you can hear.

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

The only things that are truly mine are my actions and their results.

Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values.

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

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.

A man is not called wise because he talks and talks again; but if he is peaceful, loving and fearless then he is in truth called wise.

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

Each moment of clear seeing is a moment of freedom from the illusion of permanence, satisfaction, and self.

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

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

When we understand that peace is not dependent on external conditions, we can find it in the midst of any circumstance.

Our emotions are like waves in the ocean. We can't stop the waves, but we can learn to surf.

The first noble truth of the Buddha is that life contains suffering. The second noble truth is that the cause of suffering is craving.

Remember that sometimes not getting what you want is a wonderful stroke of luck.

Real freedom is not about controlling our experience, but about being free within our experience.

The mind is intrinsically empty. It's empty of all that we perceive as being intrinsically "me" and "mine."

To be fully alive, fully human, and completely awake is to be continually thrown out of the nest.

The highest truth cannot be taught except through the conventional truth.

Peace is within oneself to be found in the same place as agitation and suffering. It is not found in a forest or on a hilltop, nor is it given by a teacher.

Observe the reality as it is, not as you wish it to be.

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.

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

Fear is the cheapest room in the house. I would like to see you living in better conditions.

In the gap between thoughts, nonconceptual wisdom shines continuously.

If you want to know your past life, look into your present condition; if you want to know your future life, look into your present actions.

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

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

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

What we learn about the world is colored by the way we approach it.

Those who understand interdependent origination understand suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the path.

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

Genuine happiness comes from having developed basic human qualities, such as attention, emotional balance, and generosity.

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

If you want to know your past life, look at your present condition. If you want to know your future life, look at your present actions.