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

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

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 most profound meditation is to think nothing at all.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

The quieter you become, the more you can hear.

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

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

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

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

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 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.

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

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

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.

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

Maintain the state of undistractedness and distractions will fly away.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

Sleep is the best meditation.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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