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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The practice of meditation is not about achieving states of bliss but about seeing things as they really are.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Maintain the state of undistractedness and distractions will fly away.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

In the gap between thoughts, nonconceptual wisdom shines continuously.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

Sleep is the best meditation.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The most profound meditation is to think nothing at all.

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

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

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