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Quotes About Mindfulness

Seeking happiness outside ourselves is like waiting for sunshine in a cave facing north.
~ Matthieu Ricard
Try to rest in the present moment, free of concepts. Watch the nature of the gap between thoughts, which is free from mental constructs. Gradually extend the interval between the disappearance of one thought and the emergence of the next. Remain in a state of simplicity that is free of mental constructs, yet perfectly aware; beyond effort, yet alert and mindful.
~ Matthieu Ricard
Try to rest in the present moment, free of concepts. Watch the nature of the gap between thoughts, which is free from mental constructs. Gradually extend the interval between the disappearance of one thought and the emergence of the next. Remain in a state of simplicity that is free of mental constructs, yet perfectly aware; beyond effort, yet alert and mindful. As you thus observe the wellspring of thoughts, it is possible to break their endless proliferation.
~ Matthieu Ricard
achieving durable happiness as a way of being is a skill. It requires sustained effort in training the mind and developing a set of human qualities, such as inner peace, mindfulness, and altruistic love.
~ Matthieu Ricard
Understanding that the essential nature of consciousness is neutral permits us to understand that it is possible to change our mental universe. We can transform the content of our thoughts and experiences.
~ Matthieu Ricard
Rather than distinguishing between emotions and thoughts, Buddhism is more concerned with understanding which types of mental activity are conducive to one's own and others' well-being, and which are harmful, especially in the long run.
~ Matthieu Ricard
Happiness is not given to us, nor is misery imposed. At every moment we are at a crossroads and must choose the direction we will take.
~ Matthieu Ricard
Instead of turning your attention to the "target," simply stare attentively at the emotion itself. You will see that it cannot sustain itself and soon runs out of steam.
~ Matthieu Ricard
the "mindfulness" of Buddhism — can play in the process. Recognizing the emotion at the very moment it forms, understanding that it is but a thought, devoid of intrinsic existence, and allowing it to dissipate spontaneously so as to avoid the chain reaction it would normally unleash are all at the heart of Buddhist contemplative practice.
~ Matthieu Ricard
Parecemos con demasiada frecuencia un caminante exhausto que lleva un pesado saco al hombro llena de una mezcla de provisiones y piedras. ¿No sería más razonable dejarlo un momento en el suelo para separar una cosa de otra y aligerar la carga?.
~ Matthieu Ricard
change, even a tiny one, in the way we manage our thoughts and perceive and interpret the world can significantly change our existence. Changing the way we experience transitory emotions leads to a change in our moods and to a lasting transformation of our way of being. Such "therapy" targets the sufferings that afflict most of us and seeks to promote the optimal flourishing of the human being.
~ Matthieu Ricard
Thus, little by little, through training the mind, you can change your habitual way of being.
~ Matthieu Ricard
According to Buddhism, suffering will always exist as a universal phenomenon, but every individual has the potential for liberation from it.
~ Matthieu Ricard
First we conceive the "I" and grasp onto it. Then we conceive the "mine" and cling to the material world. Like water trapped on the water wheel, we spin in circles, powerless. I praise the compassion that embraces all beings. – Chandrakirti
~ Matthieu Ricard
Take care of the minutes, for the hours will take care of themselves," Lord Chesterfield once told his son. This is the best path to gradual change.
~ Matthieu Ricard
Anyone who enjoys inner peace is no more broken by failure than he is inflated by success.
~ Matthieu Ricard
Understanding that the essential nature of consciousness is neutral permits us to understand that it is possible to change our mental universe. We can transform the content of our thoughts and experiences. The neutral and luminous background of our consciousness provides us with the space we need to observe mental events, rather than being at their mercy, and then to create the conditions necessary to transform them.
~ Matthieu Ricard
If we transform our way of perceiving things, we transform the quality of our lives. It is this kind of transformation that is brought about by the form of mindtraining known as meditation.
~ Matthieu Ricard
Meditation helps us to familiarize ourselves with a clear and accurate way of seeing things and to cultivate wholesome qualities that remain dormant within us unless we make an effort to draw them out.
~ Matthieu Ricard
we don't need to train our minds to improve our ability to get upset or jealous.
~ Matthieu Ricard
Renunciation essentially means simplifying one's mind, one's words, and one's activities, by letting go of what obstructs inner freedom. Constraint creates frustration; renunciation produces a real sense of joy.
~ Matthieu Ricard
On s'imagine a priori que la santé devrait influer considérablement sur le bonheur et qu'il est difficile d'être heureux quand on est frappé d'une maladie grave et contraint d'être hospitalisé. Mais il s'avère que ce n'est pas le cas, et que, même dans ces conditions, on retrouve vite le niveau de bonheur qui était le sien avant la maladie.
~ Matthieu Ricard
suffisance est l'apanage du sot
~ Matthieu Ricard
Chaque instant de vie est précieux car la mort peut survenir à tout moment.
~ Matthieu Ricard