The more we understand impermanence, the more we understand that we can't hold on to anything.

The practice of mindfulness leads naturally to concentration. Concentration leads naturally to wisdom.

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

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

The heart of the path is quite simple. No need for long explanations. Give up clinging to love and hate, just rest with things as they are.

Although all phenomena are empty of inherent existence, they function perfectly well.

When concentration is developed, wisdom arises. When wisdom arises, one becomes disenchanted with the five aggregates.

Through our eyes, the universe is perceiving itself. Through our ears, the universe is listening to its harmonies. We are the witnesses through which the universe becomes conscious of its glory, of its magnificence.

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

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

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

The perfect moment is this one, not the one you're waiting for.

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

Mindfulness is being aware of what is happening right now, without wishing it were different.

Right practice is steady practice. Whether you feel lazy or diligent, just keep practicing.

The problem is not the problem; the problem is your attitude about the problem.

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.

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

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

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

The past is gone, the future is not yet here. Live in the present moment with awareness.

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

Every being has the potential of becoming a Buddha. Our true nature is Buddha nature.

You are an aperture through which the universe is looking at and exploring itself.

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

The path to liberation is through understanding the true nature of mind and matter through direct observation.

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

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

Happiness is not about getting what you want, but wanting what you've got.

Generosity generates its own enthusiasm. We don't have to force ourselves to be generous; we just need to start.

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

Wisdom says we are nothing. Love says we are everything. Between these two our life flows.

The art of living... is neither careless drifting on the one hand nor fearful clinging to the past on the other. It consists in being sensitive to each moment, in regarding it as utterly new and unique, in having the mind open and wholly receptive.

Life is an art, and like perfect art it should be self-forgetting.

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.

The most difficult times for many of us are the ones we give ourselves.

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

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

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

The key to transformation is not to fight with our experience but to open to it with awareness.

The knowledge of dissolution comes when you see both the noting mind and noted object dissolving together.

If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.

The purpose of our lives is to be happy, and happiness is found in benefiting others.

The purpose of a spiritual discipline is to give us a way to stop the war, not by our force of will, but through understanding and through letting go.

The Buddha's path is not about becoming somebody different but about becoming more and more who you really are.

Life is available only in the present moment.

If a problem is fixable, if a situation is such that you can do something about it, then there is no need to worry. If it's not fixable, then there is no help in worrying. There is no benefit in worrying whatsoever.

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

The Noble Eightfold Path is a path of training: training in ethical conduct, training in mental discipline, and training in wisdom.

Time passes unhindered. When we make mistakes, we cannot turn the clock back and try again. All we can do is use the present well.

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

Equanimity is not indifference. It is the balanced state of mind.

When the mind is ready to understand, the truth will come to meet it.

By understanding emptiness, one understands all phenomena. Without understanding emptiness, one understands nothing.

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