“Investigate yourself to find the truth – inside, not outside. Knowing yourself is most important.”

This is the nature of the mind. We must find our own practice and persevere.

The sound is just sound, why should you go and grab it? You see that actually it was you who went out and disturbed the sound.

Why do we suffer? Because we stepped on it. So the suffering comes from us.

It is not found in a forest or on a hilltop, nor is it given by a teacher. Where you experience suffering, you can also find freedom from suffering.

Practicing meditation is just like breathing. While working we breathe, while sleeping we breathe, while sitting down we breathe…

Of course there are dozens of meditation techniques, but it all comes down to this – just let it all be. Step over here where it is cool, out of the battle. Why not give it a try?

Even if the water is falling right on it, it only touches the outside and not the inside. In this way the bowl will never get full.

Sati is life. Whenever we don’t have sati, when we are heedless, it’s as if we are dead.

If you are still following your likes and dislikes, you have not even begun to practise Dhamma.

Wisdom is in yourself, just like a sweet ripe mango is already in a young green one.

Then we don’t have to celebrate it or let anybody know about it, simply let the mind have firm confidence in the goodness and keep going like this.

Looking for peace is like looking for a turtle with a mustache: You won’t be able to find it. But when your heart is ready, peace will come looking for you.

Just know what is happening in your mind – not happy or sad about it, not attached. If you suffer see it, know it, and be empty. It’s like a letter – you have to open it before you can know what’s in it.

Difficult or easy, the Buddha said not to be heedless. Just that–don’t be heedless. Why? Because life is not certain.

There’s no need to explain anything at length. Let go of love and hate and let things be. That’s all that I do in my own practice.

There are people who are born and die and never once are aware of their breath going in and out of their body. That’s how far away they live from themselves

We read books to find out who we are. What other people, real or imaginary, do and think and feel… is an essential guide to our understanding of what we ourselves are and may become.

It doesn’t matter if you come from the inner city. People who fail in life are people who find lots of excuses. It’s never too late for a person to recognize that they have potential in themselves.

The worst walls are never the ones you find in your way. The worst walls are the ones you put there .

I awoke one day to find myself famous.

I don’t listen to what art critics say. I don’t know anybody who needs a critic to find out what art is.

Each must find out for himself, and must accept the responsibility that his answer prescribes. If he succeeds he will continue to grow in spite of all indignities.

At most, I may write when I am disturbed by something. I have recently discovered the pleasure of finding written answers to written questions.

Sometimes it’s easy to have ideas, but somebody has to find a way to do it. Often those responsible for finding a way don’t have the idea.