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 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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 trying to change ourselves. Meditation is about being aware of what is.

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

The most profound meditation is to think nothing at all.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

Sleep is the best meditation.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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