In the moment of pure noting, there is no self - only the knowing and the known.

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

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

Peace and negativity cannot coexist just as light and darkness cannot coexist.

The difference between being caught in thoughts and being mindful of thoughts is like the difference between being in a movie and watching a movie.

Compassion is not something we develop. It arises naturally as we see the truth of what is.

Misery ceases to exist when we stop reacting to sensations.

The true path is not difficult; just avoid picking and choosing.

The truth you believe and cling to makes you unavailable to hear anything new.

Peace is not found by changing the world, but by changing your attitude to the world.

All worldly pursuits have but one unavoidable and inevitable end, which is sorrow; acquisitions end in dispersion; buildings in destruction; meetings in separation; births in death.

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

Change is the nature of every phenomenon. Accept this truth and you will live a happy life.

Mindfulness is being aware of what's going on, not trying to control what's going on.

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

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

The most fundamental aggression to ourselves, the most fundamental harm we can do to ourselves, is to remain ignorant by not having the courage and the respect to look at ourselves honestly and gently.

Mindfulness helps us get better at seeing the difference between what's happening and the stories we tell ourselves about what's happening.

Loving-kindness is not something we need to manufacture. It's a natural expression of our awakened nature.

The whole moon and the entire sky are reflected in one dewdrop on the grass.

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.

The signs of practice are not in extraordinary experiences but in extraordinary awareness of ordinary experiences.

The goal of meditation is not to reach some highest place, but to remain in the place where you already are.

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

To have faith is to trust yourself to the water. When you swim you don't grab hold of the water, because if you do you will sink and drown. Instead you relax, and float.

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

The Buddha's teaching is not about belief but about investigation, not about accepting but about examining.

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

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

The lamp of wisdom burns constantly, illuminating the nature of mind.

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

The water in the ocean can be rough or calm. It can be clear or murky. But the water itself doesn't mind.

Look at situations from all angles, and you will become more open.

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

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

Zen is not necessarily against words, but it is well aware of their limitations.

The obstacle is the path.

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.

Sankharas are the seeds of consciousness that manifest as sensations. By observing sensations equanimously, we stop creating new sankharas.

Compassion is not mere sentiment but a powerful force that can transform both ourselves and others.

Time passes unhindered. When we make ourselves better, we make the world better.

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

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

When you begin to see that your enemy is suffering, that is the beginning of insight.

Every moment of confusion is also a moment of wisdom, if we can learn to recognize it.

The willingness to empty ourselves and then seek our true nature is an expression of great and courageous love.

True peace comes not from controlling the world, but from letting go of control.

To be beautiful means to be yourself. You don't need to be accepted by others. You need to accept yourself.

Don't be afraid of the future. The future is good.

The practice of ethics is not about following rules but about developing inner purity and freedom.

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

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

The dharma is not outside of you. Looking for it elsewhere is like placing a Buddha on your head while searching for him everywhere else.

Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional.

Forgiveness is giving up all hope for a better past.

Rejoicing in ordinary things is not sentimental or trite. It actually takes guts.

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

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