15 Zen Quotes to Help You Find Inner Peace

Zen Buddhism is the original spiritual practice and has been practiced for more than 1,000 years. There are numerous ways to interpret statements from Zen. This is because the concept of this philosophy was to derive insight by means of love and non-judgment rather than learn through logic and argument. It’s a way to convince people about wisdom and truth without the burden of systematic thinking.

Zen quotes may seem contradictory and obscure, but the Zen mindset is practical and non-wavering. It is the process that leads to finding inner peace that makes wisdom and enlightenment available.

These Zen Buddhist quotes will inspire, inform, and delight you! They’re beautiful thoughts, expressed with clarity, individuality, and insight into the boundless nature of the mind.

Zen Quotes to Help You Find Inner Peace

1. “Flow with whatever may happen and let your mind be free: Stay centered by accepting whatever you are doing. This is the ultimate.” – Chuang Tzu

Moments in life will drive you crazy and you will feel like running away, but that’s when you have to choose to stay. Accept the moment and be aware of what’s happening around you. Never give up your mind to negative thoughts or fear.

We can’t control everything that is happening to us, but we can decide how to react. Our reaction will decide our future so every day make a conscious effort to be positive about what is happening around you.

2. “As a bee gathering nectar does not harm or disturb the color & fragrance of the flower; so, do the wise move through the world.” – Buddha

Life is a precious gift and we are here to enjoy it, not destroy it. Every day is an opportunity to leave a positive mark on everyone around you without harming anyone or anything in the process.

3. “Earth and I are of the same root, the ten-thousand things and I are of one substance.” – Zen Master Sêng-Chao

What is the connection that connects us all? Take a look around you – things in your apartment, cars on the road, clouds in the sky. Everything that you see has a great big connection to you.

When we recognize that every aspect of Earth (sunlight, wind, rain) is connected to us and that we are the living earth, we learn to embrace our planet and find peace in it.

4. “The aim of spiritual life is to awaken a joyful freedom, a benevolent and compassionate heart in spite of everything.” – Jack Kornfield

To find peace in your life, you must begin by finding it within yourself, in your heart. Peace begins with a quiet mind and a kind attitude. This peacefulness will then attract others and make you a source of joy to them.

5. “Today, you can decide to walk in freedom. You can choose to walk differently. You can walk as a free person, enjoying every step.”- Thich Nhat Hanh

Life is meant for living. This means that when you live your life the way that you want to, you find the most peace within yourself. However, there are many people that hurt themselves by allowing others to decide the direction and path of their lives.

6. “When you catch yourself slipping into a pool of negativity, notice how it derives from nothing other than resistance to the current situation.” – Donna Quesada

It’s easy to get swept away by negative thoughts and fall into a rut when you are going through a rough patch. The key is to give these situations attention but not perseverate on them.

Negative thoughts seem so powerful because they are fueled by resistance, but when we learn from the situation instead of resisting it, we can use that experience to grow as an individual.

7. “The only thing that is ultimately real about your journey is the step that you are taking at this moment. That’s all there ever is.” – Eckhart Tolle

This is a quote that keeps me going for the rest of my life. For anything to be achieved in life, one needs to be able to focus and stay present. Yesterday is gone, tomorrow may never come. The only thing that is ultimately real about your journey is the step that you are taking at this moment.

Life is a journey and we must appreciate and embrace the journey as we go along.

8. “Education breeds confidence. Confidence breeds hope. Hope breeds peace.” – Confucius

The more you learn about the life, the more confident you become. Confidence opens your mind up to new experiences and ideas. It makes you hopeful for the future. Hope brings about peace of mind today because it allows you to see things happening in a positive manner on the horizon.

9. “Not thinking about anything is Zen. Once you know this, walking, sitting, or lying down, everything you do is Zen.” – Bodhidharma

You don’t have to go anywhere or do anything special to reap the benefits of Zen. Just remember this Zen quote as a reminder to work on your inner peace anytime you have a chance to live in the moment.

10. “When I feel like dancing, I dance. I don’t care if anyone else is dancing or if everyone else is laughing at me. I dance.” – Rachel Danson

Life is all about how you choose to live it. What is important to you? It depends where you want your life to go, and what you want it to be like. If you spend a lot of time worrying about what other people think, the fear of being judged, and your need for certainty and security in a changing world, then your life will largely be dictated by other’s opinions.

There will always be people who will judge you regardless of how hard you try to appear perfect. Remove yourself from wanting everyone's approval. Life is not about being accepted by others but living in the truth of who you are right now.

11. “We need silence to be able to reach ourselves. Both internal and external silence is very important to feel the presence of that supreme love.” – Amit Ray

Whether you’re looking for a sense of calm within yourself or to be more connected with God, silence holds the key to inner peace. When we are able to break through all the distractions around us and quiet our minds we can discover our true purpose in life.

12. “And when they played, they really played. And when they worked, they really worked.” – Dr. Seuss

Life is a never-ending series of events. Each moment brings something new, and the only way to be truly happy is to embrace all of it as it comes. Your goal should be to do your absolute best in whatever you do, whether that’s working or relaxing.

13. “No snowflake ever falls in the wrong place.” – Zen Proverb

You might not realize it yet, but you’re already where you need to be right now. You didn’t end up where you are by chance. It was all meant to be — every single little detail. Just like a snowflake. Just like each one of us.

14. “When you are present, you can allow the mind to be as it is without getting entangled in it.” – Eckhart Tolle

Being present is a very important skill when learning mindfulness. It is easy to get lost in the past or future, but this will only make you feel overwhelmed.

By being present, we develop a richer experience of life as it unfolds in each moment. We develop a quality of awareness that allows us to connect with our life more directly and deeply.

15. “Every being is in search of truth, but small fears go on preventing you.” – Osho

It’s hard to seek the truth when you’re afraid of what you might find. Perhaps it’s fear of change or fear of not enjoying the truth. Whatever fear is preventing you, I urge you to take a step closer toward facing it and ultimately gaining freedom.

Thank you,

Hope you like it!