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

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

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

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

My father is the intrinsic awareness, Samantabhadra. My mother is the ultimate sphere of reality, Samantabhadri. I belong to the caste of non-duality of these two.

The greatest wisdom is seeing through appearances.

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.

Every experience is an opportunity to practice awareness.

The mind is everything. What you think, you become.

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

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.

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.

Meditation is not an escape from reality but a way to understand reality as it truly is.

The development of wisdom does not occur in isolation but requires the cultivation of the entire Noble Eightfold Path.

Wisdom is not about accumulating knowledge, but about seeing through all knowledge.

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

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.

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

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

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

The seed of suffering in you may be strong, but don't wait until you have no more suffering before allowing yourself to be happy.

Whatever is happening is the path to enlightenment.

Real happiness comes from having an unshakable connection to the deep wellspring of peace and happiness that is not dependent on external conditions.

The farther you enter into truth, the deeper it is.

The greatest obstacle to connecting with our joy is resentment.

We think that the point is to pass the test or overcome the problem, but the truth is that things don't really get solved. They come together and they fall apart. Then they come together again and fall apart again. It's just like that. The healing comes from letting there be room for all of this to happen: room for grief, for relief, for misery, for joy.

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.

When mindfulness and concentration are strong, insight into the three characteristics naturally unfolds.

To what shall I compare this life? It is like a boat that left at dawn, leaving no trace.

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

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

The nature of mind is clearer than the sky, yet we keep looking elsewhere.

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

It is under the greatest adversity that there exists the greatest potential for doing good, both for oneself and others.

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

Impermanence, suffering, and non-self are not philosophical concepts but realities to be directly perceived through mindfulness practice.

The path of insight is a path of discovery, not a path of creation. We are discovering what is already there.

Silence is so much more productive of wisdom and clarity than thinking.

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

Man suffers only because he takes seriously what the gods made for fun.

When we attempt to exercise power or control over someone else, we cannot avoid giving that person the very same power or control over us.

The more you understand impermanence, the more you appreciate every moment.

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

Like a fine flower, beautiful to look at but without scent, fine words are fruitless in a man who does not act in accordance with them.

A pure mind is always full of love - real love for all others.

When we understand others, we understand ourselves. When we love others, we love ourselves.

The Buddha's teachings are not a religion, but a science of mind.

The best way to control people is to encourage them to be mischievous. Then they will be in control in a wider sense.

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

The real meaning of enlightenment is to gaze with undimmed eyes on all darkness.

To live is enough.

The menu is not the meal.

The law of nature is the law of cause and effect. As you sow, so shall you reap.

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.

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.

The teaching of the Buddha is based on two truths: conventional truth and ultimate truth. Without understanding the relationship between these two, the deeper meaning of the Buddha's teaching cannot be understood.

The trouble is, you think you have time.

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

Though the view should be as vast as the sky, keep your conduct as fine as barley flour.

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