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

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

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

Maintain the state of undistractedness and distractions will fly away.

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

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.

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

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.

Sleep is the best meditation.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Meditation is the road to happiness.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

In the gap between thoughts, nonconceptual wisdom shines continuously.

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

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

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.

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

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

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 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.

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

The most profound meditation is to think nothing at all.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The quieter you become, the more you can hear.

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.

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

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

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

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

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