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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

In the gap between thoughts, nonconceptual wisdom shines continuously.

The quieter you become, the more you can hear.

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

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

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

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

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

Sleep is the best meditation.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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 getting rid of thoughts; it's about changing the way we relate to them.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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