Meditation in the midst of activity is a thousand times superior to meditation in stillness.

Meditation is not about trying to change ourselves. Meditation is about being aware of what is.

The yogi's joy is in the solitude of mountains, where all distractions naturally dissolve into emptiness.

Vipassana is the art of living. Not the art of escaping.

Breathing in, there is only the present moment. Breathing out, it is a wonderful moment.

There are many ways to meditate. But at the heart of them all is mindfulness.

Knowledge must be stabilized by meditation. Without meditation, knowledge is like a child in battle.

The practice of meditation requires both energy and patience, both effort and relaxation.

The mind is like a wild monkey, jumping here and there. But through meditation, we learn to see whatever arises in our mind with more spaciousness and clarity.

The most important things in our practice are our physical posture and our way of breathing.

The purpose of meditation is not to create a mental vacuum but to come to know one's own mind.

Meditation is not about getting rid of thoughts; it's about changing the way we relate to them.

The master's introduction is direct recognition of one's own nature. Meditation is maintaining the continuity of this recognition.

Meditation is not just about sitting quietly, it's about transforming the mind.

Meditation is the road to happiness.

Let go of what has passed. Let go of what may come. Let go of what is happening now. Don't try to figure anything out. Don't try to make anything happen. Relax, right now, and rest.

The rising and falling of the abdomen is not the main object. The main object is to develop mindfulness, concentration, and insight.

The zazen I speak of is not meditation practice. It is simply the dharma gate of joyful ease.

The moment you note a thought, it disappears. The noting mind keeps the hindrances away.

Meditation is not an escape from reality but a way to understand reality as it truly is.

Meditation is like catching a fish. If you try to catch it quickly, you'll miss it. If you have patience and know how to wait, the fish will come.

Short moments, many times. That is the essence of meditation practice.

In meditation, we're not trying to get rid of thoughts but to recognize their true nature.

Sankharas are the seeds of consciousness that manifest as sensations. By observing sensations equanimously, we stop creating new sankharas.

The more you meditate, the more you understand yourself and the better friend you become to yourself.

Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor.

The purpose of meditation is to gain right understanding of the true nature of mental and physical phenomena.

The purpose of meditation is not to create a new state of mind, but to recognize what is already present.

The great gift of meditation is that it returns us to the simplicity of our own being.

The noting mind and the object noted appear to occur as a pair. Through concentration they are seen to arise and vanish together.

In true vipassana practice, there is no room for likes and dislikes. There is only observation.

When you run after your thoughts, you are like a dog chasing a stick. Every time a stick is thrown, you run after it. Instead, be like a lion who, rather than chasing after the stick, turns to face the thrower.

Maintain the state of undistractedness and distractions will fly away.

Concentration is a cornerstone of mindfulness practice. Your mindfulness will only be as robust as your capacity to ground your attention in the present moment.

The root of all mind is your own present pure awareness. Rest in that essence without seeking elsewhere.

Don't think that only sitting with the eyes closed is practice. If you do think this way, then quickly change your thinking.

Better to have one moment of genuine meditation than to perform religious activities for a thousand years.

The challenge in meditation is not to eliminate thinking but to understand the nature of thought itself.

The state of mind that exists when you sit in the right posture is, itself, enlightenment.

Each breath is a new beginning, a fresh opportunity to awaken.

The most profound meditation is to think nothing at all.

When thoughts arise, recognize them as the display of your own awareness, like recognizing your own children in a crowd.

The essence of meditation is not something complicated or exotic. It is simply taking a break from our habitual patterns.

Silence is so much more productive of wisdom and clarity than thinking.

Zazen is not step-by-step meditation. Rather it is simply the easy and pleasant practice of a Buddha, the realization of the Buddha's Wisdom.

The affairs of the world will go on forever. Do not delay the practice of meditation.

The goal of meditation is not to reach some highest place, but to remain in the place where you already are.

The key to meditation is to recognize the nature of your mind rather than trying to change it.

Concentration develops naturally through continuous noting. Don't try to force concentration to arise.

The practice of meditation is like tuning an instrument. Too tight, and the strings break. Too loose, and they won't play.

Understanding at the intellectual level is not enough. There must be experience at the actual level.

The greatest obstacle to meditation is our expectation about what it should be.

The only way to fail at meditation is to stop doing it.

The view is like a lion - it cannot be led around by anything else. Meditation is like an eagle - it cannot be distracted by anything else. Action is like a madman - it is free from accepting and rejecting.

The quieter you become, the more you can hear.

Just observe whatever arises. Don't try to create anything, and don't reject anything.

Concentration and insight are like two wings of a bird: both are necessary for the flight to liberation.

Meditation is not about achieving anything. It's about letting go of everything.

The object of meditation and the mind which knows it must be noted as they occur. If they are not noted, desire arises and disturbs concentration.

The supreme path is not to fabricate anything. The supreme meditation is not to be distracted.