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 technique of self-observation is the technique of observing the reality about oneself at the experiential level.

Right View is not just a matter of intellectual understanding but of seeing things as they really are.

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 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.

The force of the kindness of others is so strong, we can't possibly measure it.

When the iron bird flies and horses run on wheels, the Tibetan people will be scattered like ants across the face of the earth.

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

Only to the extent that we expose ourselves over and over to annihilation can that which is indestructible be found in us.

The person who clings to nothing of the past, present and future, who has no attachment and no aversion, has no conceptual imprints.

Forgiveness is giving up all hope for a better past.

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

The way to change the world is to change your own mind.

Without accepting the fact that everything changes, we cannot find perfect composure.

Letting go gives us freedom, and freedom is the only condition for happiness.

The mind that sees its own nature becomes free from all extremes.

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

The deepest happiness comes from having an enduring sense of purpose, one that gives our lives meaning beyond the endless pursuit of pleasure and success.

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

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

The supreme path is not to fabricate anything. The supreme meditation is not to be distracted.

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.

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

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.

The nature of mind is the unity of awareness and emptiness.

Meditation is the road to happiness.

May all beings be happy, be peaceful, be liberated.

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.

Give the ones you love wings to fly, roots to come back, and reasons to stay.

Be a lamp unto yourself. Work out your liberation with diligence.

The nature of mind is like a mirror. It is not affected by whatever appears in it, yet it never fails to reflect everything perfectly.

As a flower that is lovely and beautiful, but is scentless, even so fruitless is the well-spoken word of one who does not practice it.

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