In my youth I studied, in my prime I practiced, now all my doubts are cleared.

Zen does not confuse spirituality with thinking about God while one is peeling potatoes. Zen spirituality is just to peel the potatoes.

Compassion is a verb.

If you want to find peace, then look at that point where you find you're dissatisfied and investigate what's really going on.

When you note pain, you should not dwell on the thought, "I feel pain." Simply recognize the presence of pain.

The practice of patience guards us against losing our presence of mind.

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

Craving and aversion are the roots of suffering. Observe them with equanimity.

If your compassion does not include yourself, it is incomplete.

When you note effectively, there is no time for defilements to arise. The mind becomes pure through noting.

The mind that notes and the object that is noted are both impermanent. Understanding this leads to liberation.

To be attached to a thing means that mind and the thing meet and grow into each other.

Concentration and insight are like two wings of a bird: both are necessary for the flight to liberation.

The purpose of meditation is not to create a mental vacuum but to come to know one's own mind.

The purpose of meditation is to make our mind calm and peaceful. If our mind is peaceful, we will be free from worries and mental discomfort.

Past thoughts are traceless, clear, and empty. Future thoughts are unborn and fresh. The present moment abides naturally and unconstructed.

The past is just a memory. The future is just a dream. Be here now.

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

To see nothing is to perceive the Way, and to understand nothing is to know the Dharma.

When you find your place where you are, practice occurs, actualizing the fundamental point.

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

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

Your mind is like a garden. Your thoughts are the seeds. You can grow flowers or you can grow weeds.

Genuine happiness comes from having developed basic human qualities, such as attention, emotional balance, and generosity.

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.

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

If you truly loved yourself, you could never hurt another.

Smile, breathe, and go slowly.

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

The present moment is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive, you will see it.

Meditation is not about achieving anything. It's about letting go of everything.

In the gap between thoughts, nonconceptual wisdom shines continuously.

The greatest wisdom is seeing through appearances.