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.

The path to liberation is a gradual path of self-discipline, self-development, and self-transformation.

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

The art of living... is neither careless drifting on the one hand nor fearful clinging to the past on the other. It consists in being sensitive to each moment, in regarding it as utterly new and unique, in having the mind open and wholly receptive.

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.

If you forget yourself, you become the universe.

The ultimate source of happiness is not money and power, but warm-heartedness.

Panic is a gateway to wisdom. When we learn to stay present with our panic, it becomes our teacher.

The trick is to keep exploring and not bail out, even when we find out that something is not what we thought.

Do everything with a mind that lets go. Don't accept praise or gain or anything else. If you let go a little, you will have a little peace; if you let go a lot, you will have a lot of peace.

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.

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

When you let go of trying to control everything, you can relax and enjoy life.

The root of suffering is attachment.

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

The Buddha taught us to leave alone the things that don't lead to awakening.

In the monastery of your body, the monk of your mind must stay in retreat.

What is the sound of one hand clapping?

The moment you note a thought, it disappears. The noting mind keeps the hindrances away.

Whatever is happening is the path to enlightenment.

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

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

The practice of mindfulness leads naturally to concentration. Concentration leads naturally to wisdom.

Peace is within oneself to be found in the same place as agitation and suffering. It is not found in a forest or on a hilltop, nor is it given by a teacher.

Equanimity is not indifference. It is the balanced mind that sees things clearly without reaction.

When you look deeply into your anger, you will see that the person you call your enemy is also suffering. As soon as you see that, the capacity for accepting and having compassion for them is there.

The key to happiness is inner peace. The greatest obstacles to inner peace are disturbing emotions such as anger, attachment, fear and suspicion.

When things fall apart and we're on the verge of we know not what, the test of each of us is to stay on that brink and not concretize.

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

Just as true humor is laughter at oneself, true humanity is knowledge of oneself.

The essence of Buddhist practice is to bring everything onto the path. Every experience becomes an opportunity for awakening.

The essence of Buddhism is not a belief system but a systematic investigation of our experience.

The Buddha never taught a sectarian religion; he taught Dhamma - the way to liberation - which is universal.