The period of greatest gain in knowledge and experience is the most difficult period in one's life.

When I run from suffering, it follows me. When I face suffering with equanimity, it runs from me.

Zen proposes its solution by directly appealing to facts of personal experience and not to book-knowledge.

Compassion is the radicalism of our time.

The path to liberation requires both understanding and practice, both pariyatti and patipatti.

If you want to understand suffering, you must look into the situation at hand. The teachings say that wherever a problem arises it must be settled right there.

Panic, anxiety, and stress are not obstacles to the practice. They are the path to wisdom and compassion.

The world is its own magic.

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

The realization of impermanence leads not to despair but to a deeper appreciation of the preciousness of each moment.

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

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

Forgiveness is letting go of the hope that the past could have been any different.

The object of meditation and the mind which knows it must be noted as they occur. If they are not noted, desire arises and disturbs concentration.

Every step on the path must be with the understanding of anicca - impermanence. This is the essence of the teaching.

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

The everyday practice is simply to develop complete acceptance and openness to all situations and emotions.

In a mind clear as still water, even the waves, breaking, are reflecting its light.

The purpose of meditation is not to create a new state of mind, but to recognize what is already present.

Nothing can harm you as much as your own unguarded thoughts.

The door of your heart can only be opened from the inside.

The nature of all things is like a magical illusion, a mirage, a dream, a reflection of the moon in water.

Wherever you are, you are one with the clouds and one with the sun and the stars you see. You are one with everything. That is more true than I can say, and more true than you can hear.

Just know what is happening in your mind - not happy or sad about it, not attached. If you suffer, see it, know it, be empty.

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

When mindfulness is weak, defilements are strong; when mindfulness is strong, defilements are weak.

The way to overcome anger is to be too busy being kind to have time to be angry.

All experiences are preceded by mind, having mind as their master, created by mind.

The whole path of mindfulness is about letting go. We let go of our attachment to our views, our attachment to our opinions, our attachment to our ideas.

Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.

The affairs of the world will go on forever. Do not delay the practice of meditation.

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

In meditation, we are continuously discovering who and what we are.