Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.
—Buddhist Teaching
Those who know others are intelligent; those who know themselves are truly wise . Those who master others are strong; those who master themselves have true power
—Laozi (fl.6th Century BCE) Chinese Philosopher, Sage
In your outer life If you can feel Consciously and soulfully happy Even while doing Ordinary, mundane things, God will consider this Your real meditation
—Sri Chinmoy (1931–2007) Indian Yoga Teacher
Meditation is the dissolution of thoughts in Eternal awareness or Pure consciousness without objectification, knowing without thinking, merging finitude in infinity.
—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
Most powerful is he who has himself in his own power.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
Buddhist meditation doen’t necessarily mean sitting cross-legged with your eyes closed. Simply observing how your mind is responding to the sense world as you go about your business – walking, talking, shopping, whatever – can be a really perfect meditation and bring a perfect result.
—Lama Thubten Yeshe (1935–84) Tibetan Buddhist Teacher
‘Tis greatly wise to talk with our past hours and ask them what report they bore to heaven, and how they might have borne more welcome news.
—Edward Young (1683–1765) English Poet
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
Still your mind in me, still yourself in me, and without a doubt you shall be united with me, Lord of Love, dwelling in your heart.
—The Bhagavad Gita Hindu Scripture
Profound meditation in solitude and silence frequently exalts the mind above its natural tone, fires the imagination, produces the most refined and sublime conceptions. The soul then tastes the purest and most refined delight, and almost loses the idea of existence in the intellectual pleasure it receives. The mind on every motion darts through space into eternity; and raised, in its free enjoyment of its powers by its own enthusiasm, strengthens itself in the habitude of contemplating the noblest subjects, and of adopting the most heroic pursuits.
—Johann Georg Ritter von Zimmermann (1728–1795) Swiss Philosophical Writer, Naturalist, Physician
No great work has ever been produced except after a long interval of still and musing meditation.
—Walter Bagehot (1826–77) English Economist, Journalist
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
If we know the divine art of concentration, if we know the divine art of meditation, if we know the divine art of contemplation, easily and consciously we can unite the inner world and the outer world
—Sri Chinmoy (1931–2007) Indian Yoga Teacher
When we meditate, what we actually do is enter into a vacant, calm, still, silent mind. We go deep within and approach our true existence, which is our soul. When we live in the soul, we feel that we are actually meditating spontaneously.
—Sri Chinmoy (1931–2007) Indian Yoga Teacher
Make your judgment trustworthy by trusting it. Cultivate regular periods of silence and meditation. The best time to build judgment is in solitude, when you can think out things for yourself without the probability of interruption.
—Grenville Kleiser (1868–1935) Canadian Author
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
Meditation’ is a most complicated and most fulfilling word. When we meditate without knowing how to meditate, when we meditate with our mind, it is most complicated. But when we meditate with our inner conviction, with the feeling of divinity within us, it becomes most fulfilling
—Sri Chinmoy (1931–2007) Indian Yoga Teacher
Nine-tenths of our sickness can be prevented by right thinking plus right hygiene—nine-tenths of it.
—Henry Miller (1891–1980) American Novelist
Turn your vision inward and the whole world will be full of supreme spirit.
—Ramana Maharshi (1879–1950) Indian Hindu Mystic
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
Cry within. Meditate within. Dive within. Your inner achievements will far outweigh your outer imperfections
—Sri Chinmoy (1931–2007) Indian Yoga Teacher
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
Meditation is an effort in the beginning. Later on it becomes habitual and gives bliss, joy and peace
—Sivananda Saraswati (1887–1963) Indian Hindu Spiritual 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
If one’s life is simple, contentment has to come. Simplicity is extremely important for happiness. Having few desires, feeling satisfied with what you have, is very vital: satisfaction with just enough food, clothing, and shelter to protect yourself from the elements. And finally, there is an intense delight in abandoning faulty states of mind and in cultivating helpful ones in meditation.
—The 14th Dalai Lama (b.1935) Tibetan Buddhist Religious Leader, Civil Rights Leader, Philosopher, Author
Meditate Silently. You will be able to create A totally new life For Yourself
—Sri Chinmoy (1931–2007) Indian Yoga Teacher
Meditation is a busy search in the storehouse of phantasy for some ideas of matters, to be cast in the moulds of resolution into some forms of words or actions; in which search, when I have used my greatest diligence, I find this is the best conclusion, that to meditate on the best is the best of meditations; and a resolution to make a good end is a good end of my resolutions.
—Arthur Warwick
It is necessary for us to withdraw at regular intervals and enable our souls to attain that quietude and inward composure which are essential if we would hear the voice of God.
—Ole Hallesby (1879–1961) Norwegian Lutheran Theologian
He who always thinks himself as weak will never become strong, but he who knows himself to be a lion, rushes out from the worlds meshes, as a lion from its cage.
—Swami Vivekananda (1863–1902) Indian Hindu Monk, Mystic