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

Meditation is not about trying to change your experience; it's about changing your relationship to your experience.

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

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.

Sleep is the best meditation.

Meditation is the ultimate mobile device; you can use it anywhere, anytime, unobtrusively.

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

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

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

Meditation is the road to happiness.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The most profound meditation is to think nothing at all.

Maintain the state of undistractedness and distractions will fly away.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Leave your front door and your back door open. Allow your thoughts to come and go. Just don't serve them tea.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.