Make friends with those who are honest, sincere, and knowledgeable; have faith in the Buddhas without getting caught up by the occult; learn the Dharma without dabbling around; revere the Sangha without blindly following any individual. - Master Sheng Yen

Existence and emptiness are one and the same. - Master Sheng Yen

What characterizes one who is enlightened: There is no Bodhi tree, nor sign of a mirror bright. - Master Sheng Yen

What characterizes a practitioner: The body is the Bodhi tree, the mind a mirror bright. - Master Sheng Yen

What characterizes an ordinary person: The body is a tree swaying in the wind, the mind a placid lake with the reflection of the autumn moon. - Master Sheng Yen

While the moon waxes and wanes, it is always there. When all the obstructions are removed, it reveals itself. - Master Sheng Yen

Walking is a great way to train one's body and mind. Walking fast helps dispel illusions, walking slowly helps nurture concentration and wisdom. - Master Sheng Yen

Always keep humility in mind and one can accomplish anything.- Master Sheng Yen

Whoever wakes from this never-ending dream of ours will be far removed from illusions and inverted views. - Master Sheng Yen

The study of Ch'an is the study of mind. All phenomena are manifestations of one's mind. - Master Sheng Yen

When you can keep your mind unruffled by the ups and downs in life, you will experience true joy. - Master Sheng Yen

As you do not wait till you are thirsty to start digging a well, do not wait till you are in trouble to start learning the Dharma. - Master Sheng Yen

You can plan and plot your life down to the smallest details, yet it is when you let go of all self-centered concerns that your life will finally flourish. - Master Sheng Yen

Everybody says life is like a dream, so why does everybody refuse to wake from this dream? - Master Sheng Yen

You are already near enlightenment if you are aware of your faults; you are near a disaster if you refuse to recongize and rectify them. - Master Sheng Yen

Heaven and hell are both in one's mind, there is no attaining Buddhahood outside of one's mind. - Master Sheng Yen

Turn a crisis into an opportunity, turn a dead end into a new path. - Master Shyeng Yen

As soon as thunder and lightning begin, one can expect a rain storm to follow. This is the workings of causes and conditions. - Master Sheng Yen

Those watching a play often forget it is only a play, those dreaming often forget they are in a dream. - Master Sheng Yen

When the sun sets, remember that it will rise again tomorrow; when the sun rises, remember that the sunset is not far behind. - Master Sheng Yen

The difference between "pure" and "impure" only exists in a discriminating mind. - Master Sheng Yen

For a Buddhist, every day is a good day, everywhere is a good place. - Master Sheng Yen

Even the deepest ocean is not bottomless, even the tallest mountain has a base, everything great starts small. - Master Sheng Yen

Education is an undertaking that will have impact for a thousand years, morality is a lodestar that will shine for a hundred generations. - Master Sheng Yen

The green mountains and bubbling streams, the chirping birds and fragrant flowers -- everything around you can be an eloquent Dharma teacher if you know where to look. - Master Sheng Yen