When you drop bombs on the enemy, you drop those same bombs on yourself, your own country.

You must be completely awake in the present to enjoy the tea.

To think in terms of either pessimism or optimism oversimplifies the truth. The problem is to see reality as it is. A pessimistic attitude can never create the calm and serene smile which blossoms on the lips of Bodhisattvas and all those who obtain the way.

You have two gardens: your own garden and that of your beloved. First, you have to take care of your own garden and master the art of gardening. In each one of us there are flowers and there is also garbage. The garbage is the anger, fear, discrimination, and jealousy within us. If you water the garbage, you will strengthen the negative seeds. If you water the flowers of compassion, understanding, and love, you will strengthen the positive seeds. What you grow is up to you.

Preventing war is much better than protesting against the war. Protesting the war is too late.

A smile can change the situation of the world.

Keeping your body healthy is an expression of gratitude to the whole cosmos — the trees, the clouds, everything.