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.

Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.

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

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

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

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

The restraint of the senses is not a matter of suppression but of wise attention to our experience.

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

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

The key to happiness is inner peace. The greatest obstacles to inner peace are disturbing emotions such as anger, attachment, fear and suspicion.

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

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

Don't be a bodhisatta; don't be an arahant; don't be anything at all. Being something makes you suffer.

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

Vipassana is the art of living. Not the art of escaping.

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

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

Each of you is perfect the way you are... and you can use a little improvement.

Compassion is not a relationship between the healer and the wounded. It's a relationship between equals.

The meaning of life is just to be alive. It is so plain and so obvious and so simple. And yet, everybody rushes around in a great panic as if it were necessary to achieve something beyond themselves.

Even if you speak of 'understanding,' this understanding is not a matter of knowledge. It is what fills the entire body and mind.

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

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

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

Don't try to change the world. First, change yourself.

Trees, mountains, and vines all exist in nature according to their own truth. They are born and die following their nature. They remain this way because that's what they are. They don't practice meditation or do anything special.

To think in terms of either pessimism or optimism oversimplifies the truth. The problem is to see reality as it is.

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.

The practice is like peeling an onion. Layer after layer of delusion is removed through continuous mindfulness.

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.

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

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

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

Words have the power to both destroy and heal. When words are both true and kind, they can change our world.

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

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

There are only two days in the year that nothing can be done. One is called yesterday and the other is called tomorrow, so today is the right day to love, believe, do and mostly live.

Ethical conduct is not a constraint upon our freedom but a condition of our freedom.

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

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

Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship.

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

All that appears and exists, all of samsara and nirvana, has one ground, two paths, and two results. This is the magical display of awareness and unawareness.

The more a thing tends to be permanent, the more it tends to be lifeless.

People who study a lot but don't practice are like a ladle in a soup pot. It's in the soup every day, but it doesn't know the taste of the soup.

The path is the goal. Every step of the journey is the journey.

The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.

Be happy at the moment, that's enough. Each moment is all we need, not more.

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

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

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

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

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.

The fundamental delusion of humanity is to suppose that I am here and you are out there.

The quieter you become, the more you can hear.

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

Our defilements are like tame tigers. If you feed them, they're tame. If you stop feeding them, they'll eat you up.