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
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
My meditation Is my mind’s Instant ignorance-illumination And Bondage-liberation.
—Sri Chinmoy (1931–2007) Indian Yoga Teacher
Still the bubbling mind; herein lies freedom and bliss eternal.
—Sivananda Saraswati (1887–1963) Indian Hindu Spiritual Teacher
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
Turn thy gaze inward, wherein resides the Supreme Self.
—Swami Vivekananda (1863–1902) Indian Hindu Monk, Mystic
The more intense the nature of a man, the more readily will he find meditation, and the more successfully will he practice it.
—James Lane Allen (1849–1925) American Novelist, Short Story Writer
No soul can preserve the bloom and delicacy of its existence without lonely musings and silent prayer, and the greatness of this necessity is in proportion to the greatness of evil.
—Frederic William Farrar (1831–1903) English Clergyman, Writer
Meditation may think down hours to moments. The heart may give most useful lessons to the head, and learning wiser grow without his books.
—William Cowper (1731–1800) English Anglican Poet, Hymn writer
Through meditation and by giving full attention to one thing at a time, we can learn to direct attention where we choose.
—Eknath Easwaran (1910–99) Indian Meditation Teacher, Spiritual Author
Tigers, lions, elephants, bears,
Snakes and all forms of enemies,
The guardians of the hell worlds,
Evil spirits and cannibals.
Will all be bound
By binding my mind alone,
And will all be subdued
By subduing my mind alone.
—Shantideva (685–763) Indian Buddhist Scholar
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
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
We are sick with fascination for the useful tools of names and numbers, of symbols, signs, conceptions and ideas. Meditation is therefore the art of suspending verbal and symbolic thinking for a time, somewhat as a courteous audience will stop talking when a concert is about to begin.
—Alan Watts (1915–73) British-American Philosopher, Author
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
Excerpt from Prayer-World, Mantra-World And Japa.
—Sri Chinmoy (1931–2007) Indian Yoga Teacher
This…is the surer, safer, saner way of meditation. For, when the mind is absent from the body it is present with thy Lord, thy purposes, thy hopes.
—Edgar Cayce (1877–1945) American Faith Healer
Thus meditating you will no longer strive to build yourself up in your prejudices, but, forgetting self, you will remember only that you are seeking the Truth.
—James Lane Allen (1849–1925) American Novelist, Short Story Writer
Through regular practice of concentration and meditation you attain clarity of mind, increased grasping power, retentive memory, increased intelligence, confidence, peace, optimism and control of the senses.
—Sivananda Saraswati (1887–1963) Indian Hindu Spiritual Teacher
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
Music without words means leaving behind the mind. And leaving behind the mind is meditation. Meditation returns you to the source. And the source of all is sound.
—Kabir (1440–1518) Indian Mystic
I meditate So that I can inundate My entire being With the omnipotent Power of peace.
—Sri Chinmoy (1931–2007) Indian Yoga Teacher
We meditate for various reasons. Peace of mind we all badly need. Therefore, when we meditate, either consciously or unconsciously we aim at peace of mind. Meditation give us peace of mind without a tranquilliser. And unlike a tranquilliser, the peace of mind that we get from meditation does not fade away. It lasts for good in some corner of the inmost recesses of our aspiring heart.
—Sri Chinmoy (1931–2007) Indian Yoga Teacher
From meditation springs wisdom. From lack of meditation, loss of wisdom. Recognising these alternative roads of progress and decline, one should so direct oneself so that one’s wisdom will increase.
—Buddhist Teaching
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
Turn your vision inward and the whole world will be full of supreme spirit.
—Ramana Maharshi (1879–1950) Indian Hindu Mystic
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
Meditation is silence. Silence is God In His Infinity’s Smile.
—Sri Chinmoy (1931–2007) Indian Yoga Teacher
It is extroversion that wastes our energy and makes us feel weak. In a state of introversion we think less and speak less. We then have the power to put into action whatever we think and whatever we need to do.
—Indian Proverb
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
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