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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The quieter you become, the more you can hear.

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.

Meditation is the road to happiness.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

Maintain the state of undistractedness and distractions will fly 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.

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

The most profound meditation is to think nothing at all.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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