Ideas of good and evil are created by our mind, not by nature.

The quality of our presence already changes the situation.

Our idea of happiness may be the very obstacle standing in the way of our happiness.

The path to well-being is the path out of ill-being.

The art of living happily is also the art of transforming our afflictions.

Sitting meditation is an act of civilization. These days we are so busy, we don’t even have time to breathe. To take a moment to sit in stillness and cultivate peace, joy, and compassion—that is civilization. It is priceless.

Just sitting down and doing nothing is an art. It’s the art of non-doing. You don’t have to do anything. You don’t have to struggle with yourself in order to sit. You don’t have to make an effort to be peaceful.

Mindfulness transforms even the most mundane of actions into sacred actions. Any moment can become a meaningful moment where we encounter life deeply—whether we’re washing the dishes, washing our hands, or walking to the bus stop.

The art of dwelling happily in the present moment is the practice most needed in our time.