We are on the threshold of both heaven and hell, moving nervously between the gateway of the one and the anteroom of the other... a string of coincidences might yet send us rolling in either direction.

Like evolution, history disregards the happiness of individual organisms.

'Arms racing' is a patterns of behavior that spreads itself like a virus from one country to another, harming everyone.

St. Augustine knew perfectly well that if you asked people about it, most of them would prefer to have sex than pray to god... [ proving ] only that humankind is sinful by nature and easily seduced by Satan. From a Christian viewpoint, the vast majority of people are in more or less the same situation as heroin addicts.

Buddhism has assigned the question of happiness more importance than perhaps any other human creed... Buddhism shares the basic insight of the biological approach to happiness, that happiness results from processes occurring withing one's body, not from events in the outside world... the real root of suffering is this never-ending and pointless pursuit of ephemeral feelings

We have been disturbing the ecological equilibrium of our planet in myriad new ways... evidence indicates that we are destroying the foundations of human prosperity in an orgy of reckless consumption.

If we accept a mere tenth of what animal-rights activists are claiming, then modern industrial agriculture might well be the greatest crime in history.

When evaluating global happiness, it is wrong to count the happiness only of the upper classes, of Europeans or of men. Perhaps it is also wrong to consider only the happiness of humans.

Every new invention just puts another mile between us and the Garden of Eden.

Because your own mouth is not good for anything you come to note down my words. It is certain that some day you'll sell me!

This world is such a wide world! Why then do you answer to a temple bell and don ceremonial robes?

If you do not see a man for three days, do not think he is the same man.

I made a great feast in the joss house, but the hungry gods are never satisfied.

If you know that the real thing has been purposefully put aside, you can use a little effort to discover it.

When a monk asked Yunmen: 'What is Buddha?' the master replied: 'A toilet stick.'

If you start seeking, you are unable to see… As soon as you seek, it is like grasping at shadows.

The heat of a candle flame can’t compete with the heat of the sun… When you grasp this, then all things will be your teacher.

The holy truths are empty

The treasury of teachings of the whole age cannot explain it thoroughly.

Sun Face Buddha, Moon Face Buddha.