Meditation quotes
1.8K quotes on this topic — from poets, philosophers, and thinkers across history.
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Browse quotes that often appear alongside meditation — connected by shared ideas and recurring themes.
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"Before practicing meditation, we see that mountains are mountains. When we start to practice, we see that mountains are no longer mountains. After practicing a while, we see that mountains are again mountains. Now the mountains are very free. Our mind is still with the mountains, but it is no longer bound to anything."
"You have to learn how to help a wounded child while still practicing mindful breathing. You should not allow yourself to get lost in action. Action should be meditation at the same time."
"Meditation is not an escape from life... but preparation for really being in life."
"Meditation develops the capacity to question your mind. Without it, you are at the mercy of every thought, every desire, every wave of emotion."
"If you set out to meditate, it will not be meditation. If you set out to be good, goodness will never flower."
"To understand what is right meditation there must be an awareness of the operation of one's own consciousness, and then there is complete attention."
"Meditation is the action of silence."
"One of the things I like about performing on the stage is that it is a kind of meditative experience. Time does stand still. You have no concept or feeling of the passing of two or three hours' time. It's all kind of one present moment, which is a kind of a description of meditation."
"All human beings have an innate desire to overcome suffering, to find happiness. Training the mind to think differently, through meditation, is one important way to avoid suffering and be happy."
"Life can be pleasant or miserable. To lead a fruitful life, and to make it positive, practice analytical meditation."
"The very purpose of meditation is to discipline the mind and reduce afflictive emotions."
"While we are sitting in meditation, we are simply exploring humanity and all of creation in the form of ourselves."
"It is only when we begin to relax with ourselves that meditation becomes a transformative process. Only when we relate with ourselves without moralizing, without harshness, without deception, can we let go of harmful patterns. Without maitri (metta), renunciation of old habits becomes abusive. This is an important point."
"Prayer is you speaking to God. Meditation is allowing the spirit to speak to you."
"Technology is neutral. You can use [it] to become frenetic and to go out of your mind. But you can also use technology to relax and improve performance. Self-awareness is not just relaxation and not just meditation. It must combine relaxation with activity and dynamism. Technology can aid that."
"If you are not having good experiences in meditation, then do more seva you will gain merit and your meditation will be deeper. When you bring some relief or freedom to someone through seva, good vibrations and blessings come to you"
"Practice meditation. Become a seeker. Walk the path of the seeker. You will get the best of everything the world has to offer."
"When you are happy time appears shorter, when you are sad time appears longer. And in meditation we transcend time!"
"We do not depend upon any external help in meditation."
"A great gift - a gift of Dharma conquers all gifts."
