Why do we meditate? We meditate precisely because this world of ours has disappointed us and because failure looms large in our day-to-day life. We want fulfilment. We want joy, peace, bliss and perfection within and without. Meditation is the answer, the only answer
—Sri Chinmoy (1931–2007) Indian Yoga Teacher
Every moment there is a possibility to be total. Whatsoever you are doing, be absorbed in it so utterly that the mind thinks nothing, is just there, is just a presence. And more and more totality will be coming. And the taste of totality will make you more and more capable of being total. And try to see when you are not total. Those are the moments which have to be dropped slowly, slowly. When you are not total, whenever you are in the head—thinking, brooding, calculating, cunning, clever—you are not total. Slowly, slowly slip out of those moments. It is just an old habit. Habits die hard. But they die certainly—if one persists, they die.
—Sri Rajneesh (Osho) (1931–90) Indian Spiritual Teacher
Where a man has a passion for meditating without the capacity of thinking, a particular idea fixes itself fast, and soon creates a mental disease
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
The real sign of serenity is not seen so much in the face, as found in the depth and stillness of the eyes.
—Indian Proverb
Real meditation we get from within or from a spiritual Master. We can never get it from books. From books we can get inspiration or an inner approach to the fulfillment of our outer life. But in order to have true meditation we have to go deep within or follow the guidance of a spiritual Master
—Sri Chinmoy (1931–2007) Indian Yoga Teacher
No need for special meditation rooms or temples. You can even meditate by driving a car, having a conversation or working at the computer.
—Hans Taeger
Only so far as a man is happily married to himself, is he fit for married life to another, and for family life generally.
—Novalis (1772–1801) German Romantic Poet, Novelist
When any one has offended me, I try to raise my soul so high that the offense cannot reach it.
—Rene Descartes (1596–1650) French Mathematician, Philosopher
Whatever forms of meditation you practice, the most important point is to apply mindfulness continuously, and make a sustained effort. It is unrealistic to expect results from meditation within a short period of time. What is required is continuous sustained effort.
—The 14th Dalai Lama (b.1935) Tibetan Buddhist Leader, Civil Rights Advocate, Author
The rosary rotating by the hand (or) the tongue twisting in the mouth, With the mind wandering everywhere, this isn’t meditation.
—Kabir (1440–1518) Indian Mystic
Some people think that meditation takes time away from physical accomplishment. Taken to extremes, of course, that’s true. Most people,
however, find that meditation creates more time than it takes
—Peter McWilliams (1949–2000) American Author, Self-Help Writer
Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.
—Buddhist Teaching
Even those who wish to find happiness and overcome misery
Will wander with no aim nor meaning
If they do not comprehend the secret of the mind-
The paramount significance of Dharma.
—Shantideva (685–763) Indian Buddhist Scholar
We can live without religion and meditation, but we cannot survive without human affection.
—The 14th Dalai Lama (b.1935) Tibetan Buddhist Leader, Civil Rights Advocate, Author
Meditation is the soul’s perspective glass, whereby, in her long removes, she discerneth God, as if he were nearer at hand.
—Owen Feltham (1602–68) English Essayist
If you have controlled your mind you are the conqueror of the whole world.
—Sivananda Saraswati (1887–1963) Indian Hindu Spiritual Teacher
All the troubles of life come upon us because we refuse to sit quietly for awhile each day in our rooms.
—Blaise Pascal (1623–62) French Mathematician, Physicist, Theologian
Meditation is the life of the soul; action is the soul of meditation; honor is the reward of action; so meditate, that thou mayst do; so do, that thou mayst purchase honor; for which purchase, give God the glory.
—Francis Quarles (1592–1644) English Religious Poet
In this world, unsubdued and crazed elephants Are incapable of causing such harms As the miseries of the deepest hell Which can be caused by the unleashed elephant of my mind.
—Shantideva (685–763) Indian Buddhist Scholar
Regular meditation opens the avenues of intuitional knowledge, makes the mind calm and steady, awakens an ecstatic feeling, and brings the practitioner in contact with the source of his/her very being
—Sivananda Saraswati (1887–1963) Indian Hindu Spiritual Teacher
Better indeed is knowledge than mechanical practice. Better than knowledge is meditation. But better still is surrender of attachment to results, because there follows immediate peace.
—The Bhagavad Gita Hindu Scripture
The Perfect Teacher himself has shown
That in this way all fears
As well as all boundless miseries
Originate from the mind.
—Shantideva (685–763) Indian Buddhist Scholar
What meditation does slowly, slowly, a good shout of the master, unexpectedly, in the situation where the disciple was asking some question, and the master jumps and shouts, or hits him, or throws him out of the door, or jumps over him…. These methods were never known. It was purely the very creative genius of Ma Tzu, and he made many people enlightened. Sometimes it looks so hilarious: he threw a man from the window, from a two-storey house, and the man had come to ask on what to meditate. And Ma Tzu not only threw him, he jumped after him, fell on him, sat on his chest, and he said, “Got it?!” And the poor fellow said, “Yes” – because if you say “No,” he may beat you or do something else! It is enough – his body is fractured, and Ma Tzu, sitting on his chest, says, “Got it?!” And in fact he got it, because it was so sudden, out of the blue – he could never have conceived it.
—Sri Rajneesh (Osho) (1931–90) Indian Spiritual Teacher
My meditation Is my heart’s God-Perfection-Satisfaction-song
—Sri Chinmoy (1931–2007) Indian Yoga Teacher
Seek truth in meditation, not in moldy books. Look in the sky to find the moon, not in the pond
—Persian Proverb
The biggest disease of the mind is over-thinking, especially too much thinking about others. Thinking too much is like eating too much. The heaviness makes it impossible to remain light and flexible.
—Indian Proverb
Writing is an escape from a world that crowds me. I like being alone in a room. It’s almost a form of medication- an investigation of my own life. It has nothing to do with “I’ve got to get another play.”
—Neil Simon (1927–2018) American Playwright
I meditate So that I can inundate My entire being With the omnipotent Power of peace
—Sri Chinmoy (1931–2007) Indian Yoga Teacher
When you meditate, what you actually do is to enter into a calm or still, silent mind. We have to be fully aware of the arrival and attack of thoughts. That is to say, we shall not allow any thought, divine or undivine, good or bad, to enter into our mind. Our mind should be absolutely silent. Then we have to go deep within; there we have to observe our real existence
—Sri Chinmoy (1931–2007) Indian Yoga Teacher
The very best and utmost of attainment in this life is to remain still and let God act and speak in thee.
—Meister Eckhart (c.1260–1327) German Christian Mystic
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