The mind is like a wild monkey, jumping here and there. But through meditation, we learn to see whatever arises in our mind with more spaciousness and clarity.

Just as a snake sheds its skin, we must shed our past over and over again.

Our task is not to seek for love but to find all the barriers within ourselves that we have built against it.

World peace must develop from inner peace. Peace is not just mere absence of violence. Peace is, I think, the manifestation of human compassion.

Muddy water is best cleared by leaving it alone.

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.

Radiate boundless love towards the entire world — above, below, and across — unhindered, without ill will, without enmity.

Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is relax.

Do not think you will necessarily be aware of your own enlightenment.

Feelings like disappointment, embarrassment, irritation, resentment, anger, jealousy, and fear, instead of being bad news, are actually very clear moments that teach us where it is that we're holding back.

If you want to know the past, look at the present. If you want to know the future, look at the present.

Rather than letting our negativity get the better of us, we could acknowledge that right now we feel like a piece of shit and not be squeamish about taking a good look.

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

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

Every morning we are born again. What we do today is what matters most.

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

The purpose of life is to be happy, to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate. It is not to be well known, cited, or powerful.

In true dialogue, both sides are willing to change.

In the end, just three things matter: How well we have lived, how well we have loved, how well we have learned to let go.

Whatever is dependently co-arisen, that is explained to be emptiness. That, being a dependent designation, is itself the middle way.

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

Understanding means throwing away your knowledge.

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

The present moment is the only moment available to us, and it is the door to all moments.

Fear keeps us focused on the past or worried about the future. If we can acknowledge our fear, we can realize that right now we are okay.

Kindness is the solution to all of life's problems.

Don't think that only sitting with the eyes closed is practice. If you do think this way, then quickly change your thinking.

The purpose of Buddhist practice is not to become a Buddhist but to awaken to the nature of reality.

Compassion is the radicalism of our time.

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

In meditation, we're not trying to get rid of thoughts but to recognize their true nature.

The way is basically perfect. It is not a matter of practice or enlightenment.

In Zen there must be satori; there must be a general mental upheaval which destroys the old accumulations of intellection and lays down the foundation for a new life.