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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sleep is the best meditation.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

The most profound meditation is to think nothing at all.

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

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

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

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

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.

In the gap between thoughts, nonconceptual wisdom shines continuously.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

The quieter you become, the more you can hear.

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

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

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 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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