The goal of meditation is not to achieve a blank mind, but to gain insight into the nature of mind itself.

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

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

Meditation is not about stopping thoughts, but recognizing that we are not our thoughts.

In meditation, we are continuously discovering who and what we are.

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

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

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

Don't expect or desire anything. Just keep noting whatever arises in the present moment.

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

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

Sleep is the best meditation.

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

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

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

When you practice zazen you should not try to attain anything. You should just sit in the complete calmness of your mind and not rely on anything.

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.

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.

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

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

Meditation is not an escape from life but a way to fully engage with life.

Meditation is not about escaping from difficulty but about meeting it with awareness.

The practice of mindfulness is simple: whatever you experience, you observe and note it.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

Maintain the state of undistractedness and distractions will fly away.

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

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

The purpose of meditation is to make our mind calm and peaceful. If our mind is peaceful, we will be free from worries and mental discomfort.

The technique of self-observation is the technique of observing the reality about oneself at the experiential level.

In the gap between thoughts, nonconceptual wisdom shines continuously.

Breathing in, I calm body and mind. Breathing out, I smile.

Meditation practice isn't about trying to throw ourselves away and become something better. It's about befriending who we are already.

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

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.

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

In the monastery of your body, the monk of your mind must stay in retreat.

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

The practice is simply this: keep coming back to your breath during the day. This will give your mind a steadiness and your life a balance.

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

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

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

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

The most profound meditation is to think nothing at all.

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

Meditation is not about getting away from it all. It's about getting into it all.

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

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

Meditation is the road to happiness.

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

The quieter you become, the more you can hear.

The practice of meditation is like learning to play an instrument - it takes patience, regular practice, and a gentle touch.

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

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

Meditation is like a gym in which you develop the powerful mental muscles of calm and insight.