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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

In the gap between thoughts, nonconceptual wisdom shines continuously.

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

Maintain the state of undistractedness and distractions will fly away.

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

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

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

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

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

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 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.

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

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.

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

Understanding at the intellectual level is not enough. There must be experience at the actual level.

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

The most profound meditation is to think nothing at all.

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

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

Meditation is the road to happiness.

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

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

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

Sleep is the best meditation.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 about trying to change your experience; it's about changing your relationship to your experience.

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

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

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

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