Quotes About Mindfulness

I just want to think deeply about things. Contemplate ideas in a pure, free sort of way. That's all. If you think about it, that's kind of like constructing a vacuum.

If a person remains tense for a long time he might not notice it himself, but it's like his nerves are a piece of rubber that has been stretched out. It's hard to go back to the original shape.

But maybe that's the way it should be. Maybe working on the little things as dutifully and honestly as we can is how we stay sane when the world is falling apart.

From now on, little by little, you must prepare yourself to face death. If you devote all of your future energy to living, you will not be able to die well. You must begin to shift gears, a little at a time. Living and dying are, in a sense, of equal value.

Count your blessings

Let your body work until it is spent, but keep your mind for yourself.

No matter how mundane some action might appear, keep at it long enough and it becomes a contemplative, even meditative act.

Not being bored means not having to think about a lot of stupid stuff.

There's a special feeling you get on a veranda that you just can't get anywhere else.

Let the world move along as it pleased. If it had any business with him, it would be sure to tell him.

Not prejudging things, listening to what's going on, keeping your ears, heart, and mind open.

Surfing's a more profound kind of sport than it looks. When you surf, you learn not to fight the power of nature, even if it gets violent.

Somerset Maugham once wrote that in each shave lies a philosophy. I couldn't agree more. No matter how mundane some action might appear, keep at it long enough and it becomes contemplative, even meditative act.

As I run I tell myself to think of a river. And clouds. But essentially I'm thinking of not a thing. All I do is keep on running in my own cozy, homemade void, my own nostalgic silence. And this is a pretty wonderful thing. No matter what anybody else says.

It was Aomame's firm belief that the human body was a temple, to be kept as strong and beautiful and clean as possible, whatever one might enshrine there.

To get irritated is to lose our way in life.

Most people, they're trying to escape from boredom, but I'm trying to get into the thick of boredom. That's why I'm not complaining when I say my life is boring. It was enough to make my wife bail out, though.

Better not to think at all than to think halfway.

Just as you take care of the birds and the fields every morning, every morning I wind my own spring. I give it some thirty-six good twists by the time I've gotten up, brushed my teeth, shaved, eaten breakfast, changed my clothes, left the dorm, and arrived at the university. I tell myself, Ok, let's make this day another good one.

In those days I used to talk to myself as if reciting poetry.

You can't look too far ahead. Do that and you'll lose sight of what you're doing and stumble.

Most people, he muses, they're trying to escape from boredom, but I'm trying to get into the thick of boredom.

Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional. Say you're running and you start to think, Man this hurts, I can't take it anymore. The hurt part is an unavoidable reality, but whether or not you can stand any more is up to the runner himself. This pretty much sums up the most important aspect of marathon running.

I wake up, but where? I don't just think this, I actually voice the question to myself: Where am I? As if I didn't know: I'm here. In my life. A feature of the world that is my existence.