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

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.

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

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

In the gap between thoughts, nonconceptual wisdom shines continuously.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Sleep is the best meditation.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

Maintain the state of undistractedness and distractions will fly away.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

The quieter you become, the more you can hear.