Quotes About Mindfulness

in Jeffrey S. Cramer. Walden: A fully annotated edition. Yale University Press: New Haven, 2004

Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, The Myth of Freedom and the Way of Meditation. Shambhala: Boston, 1976

Yogic practice intentionally re-creates the physical structure

Yogic practice intentionally re-creates the physical structure: the musculoskeletal, neurological, digestive, respiratory, circulatory, and immune systems are all literally remade through the regular practice of postures and conscious breathing.

experience over there. That experience looks very pleasant. Let's go there." The aversive mind, on the other hand, says, "I hate the way it is right now. This is very, very unpleasant. Get me out of here!" The aversive mind pushes away the unpleasant.

4. Next comes a principle that I've discovered in my own life: "Once you do begin to get clarity, wait to act until you have at least a kernel of inner certitude." Wait to

see yourself as the smallest of the small. Then you can make room for the whole world.

A central pillar of his later teaching was that fearlessness is a prerequisite for nonviolence.

He began to practice the mantra, chanting Rama, Rama, Rama over and over again to himself—both aloud and silently. The mantra eased his fear—

For a period of time after this discovery, Gandhi walked many miles each day, repeating the mantra to himself until it began to coordinate itself with the movement of his body and breath. The practice not only calmed him, but brought him into periods of bliss and rapture—and, as he said, "opened the doorway to God." Rama, Rama, Rama. Eventually, the mantra developed a life of its own within him. The mantra began to chant itself, arising spontaneously whenever he needed it.

The whole of Chapter Six in the Bhagavad Gita is devoted to Krishna's teachings on this practice: "Whenever the mind wanders, restless and diffuse in its search for satisfaction without, lead it within; train it to rest in the Self," instructs Krishna. "When meditation is mastered, the mind is unwavering like the flame of a lamp in a windless place.

All of the Eastern contemplative traditions stumbled onto this brilliant principle: When difficulties arise, give yourself to them.

It is, therefore, a very great thing to be little, which is to say: to be ourselves. And when we are truly ourselves we lose most of the futile self-consciousness that keeps us constantly comparing ourselves with others in order to see how big we are.

As you walk through forests or the meadows of your mind, Stop and talk to those you fear Good friendships you may find

You may see all that is around you But you may feel nothing at all. So try and close your eyes so tight And listen to the night time fall.

Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space lies our freedom and power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and happiness.

Each thing I do I rush through so I can do something else.. in such a way do the days pass.. I see all that I love falling away.. books unread, jokes untold, landscapes unvisited..

Happiness is no respecter of persons.

Stop feeling sorry for yourself and you will be happy.

Inner peace does not go well with endless worries and concerns about what was and what might be. What we do with our minds really matters - what we direct our attention to, and what habits of mind we develop.

In relation to the results, we need to be aware of the quality of our words and whether they are helpful, kind, and reduce suffering in the world, or do the opposite. How do they land within someone else'sinner life? Do they cause confusion, disturbance, defensiveness, anger? Or do they help trigger calmness, confidence, clarity and kindness?

We need not be afraid of silence; sometimes it can help us listen to our precious inner messages.

Everything that comes into your consciousness, receive it . . . breathe it through . . . let it orient you even more deeply to your path.

Damn the future, right? It's right now that matters. When you don't have a fu- ture, it's always right now that means everything.