Embracing the present moment is the essence of mindfulness, a practice deeply rooted in Zen philosophy that is gaining momentum in our fast-paced world. These mindfulness quotes will help you in your everyday life and journey to discover your highest self.
But what exactly is mindfulness, and how do Zen teachings enhance this practice?
Mindfulness is the art of being fully present, a state of active, open attention to the now. It is about living each moment with awareness and accepting it without judgment.
Zen Philosophy of Mindfulness: The Art of Now
Zen philosophy guides us to embrace mindfulness by cultivating awareness and acceptance. It teaches us to observe our thoughts and emotions without criticism-a core principle echoed in the wise words of Buddha and reinforced by Jon Kabat-Zinn’s seven pillars of mindfulness.
These pillars are:
Non-judging
Beginner’s mind
Trust
Non-striving
Acceptance
They serve as a framework for integrating mindfulness into daily life. They teach us to appreciate the unfolding of life’s events, encouraging a perspective free from haste and preconceptions.
Explore the transformative power of mindfulness through the insights offered by our collection of mindfulness quotes. Let them guide you toward a more mindful, Zen-inspired way of living, where every moment is an opportunity for peace and clarity.
Short Mindfulness Quotes to Help You Accept Life As It Is
Dive into these transformative mindfulness quotes to discover the profound impact of living in the moment.
“Mindless fear is greater than mindful fear.” ― Idowu Koyenikan
“Life is a dance. Mindfulness is witnessing that dance.” ― Amit Ray
“Mind is a flexible mirror, adjust it, to see a better world.” ― Amit Ray
“You are the sky. Everything else is just the weather.” ― Pema Chodron
“Mindfulness has never met a cognition it didn’t like.” ― Daniel J. Siegel
“Be mindful. Be grateful. Be positive. Be true. Be kind.” ― Roy T. Bennett
“Let go of your mind and then be mindful. Close your ears and listen!” ― Rumi
“Everything is created twice, first in the mind and then in reality.” ― Robin Sharma
“If you want to conquer the anxiety of life, live in the moment, live in the breath.” ― Amit Ray
“Mindfulness meditation doesn’t change life. Life remains as fragile and unpredictable as ever. Meditation changes the heart’s capacity to accept life as it is.” ― Sylvia Boorstein
Mindfulness Quotes From Jon Kabat-Zinn to Encourage You to Embrace Every Moment
Embark on a journey through the insightful words of Jon Kabat-Zinn, a pioneer in mindfulness meditation. These selected quotes encapsulate the essence of being present and fully engaged with life, illuminating the path toward inner peace and mental clarity.
“Mindfulness is not a technique but a way of being.” ― Jon Kabat-Zinn
“You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.” ― Jon Kabat-Zinn
“The little things? The little moments? They aren’t little.” ― Jon Kabat-Zinn
“Noticing that you are not at peace is a great place to start.” ― Jon Kabat-Zinn
“Mindfulness is a way of befriending ourselves and our experience.” ― Jon Kabat-Zinn
“Mindfulness means being awake. It means knowing what you’re doing.” ― Jon Kabat-Zinn
“Each moment is an opportunity to make a conscious choice for a better life.” ― Jon Kabat-Zinn
“The best way to capture moments is to pay attention. This is how we cultivate mindfulness.” ― Jon Kabat-Zinn
“Mindfulness is paying attention on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally, to the unfolding of experience moment to moment.” ― Jon Kabat-Zinn
“It is cultivated by refining our capacity to pay attention, intentionally, in the present moment, and then sustaining that attention over time as best we can. In the process, we become more in touch with our life as it is unfolding.” ― Jon Kabat-Zinn
Mindfulness quotes from Buddha to Help With Your Mindfulness Practice
Discover the profound depths of mindfulness and compassion as Buddha’s words illuminate the path to a life of harmony and awakened living.
“Attachment leads to suffering.” — Buddha
“You only lose what you cling to.” — Buddha
“Nothing is forever except change.” — Buddha
“With our thoughts, we make the world.” — Buddha
“Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.” — Buddha
“The Way is not in the sky; the Way is in the heart.” — Buddha
“Be where you are; otherwise you will miss your life.” — Buddha
“Our life is shaped by our mind, for we become what we think.” — Buddha
“Nothing can harm you as much as your own thoughts unguarded.” — Buddha
“Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.” — Buddha
“Every experience, no matter how bad it seems, holds within it a blessing of some kind. The goal is to find it.” — Buddha
“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.” — Buddha
Life-Changing Mindfulness Quotes for Inner Peace and Happiness
Each mindfulness quote offers a unique lens through which to view the world, encouraging gratitude, acceptance, and the power of now.
“When you focus on the good, the good gets better.” — Abraham Hicks
“Realize deeply that the present moment is all you have.” — Eckhart Tolle
“Mindfulness helps you to be where you are when you’re there.” — Tim Ryan
“If it’s out of your hands, it deserves freedom from your mind, too.” — Ivan Nuru
“Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.” — Dalai Lama
“Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor.” ― Thich Nhat Hanh
“If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.” — Dalai Lama
“People have a hard time letting go of their suffering. Out of a fear of the unknown, they prefer suffering that is familiar.” — Thich Nhat Hanh
“How we pay attention to the present moment largely determines the character of our experience, and therefore, the quality of our lives.” — Sam Harris
“Begin doing what you want to do now. We are not living in eternity. We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand melting like a snowflake.” — Francis Bacon Sr.
Quotes About Mindful Eating and Healthier Choices
“When walking, walk. When eating, eat.” — Zen Proverb
“Mindful eating means simply eating or drinking while being aware of each bite or sip.” — Thích Nhất Hạnh
“Training your mind to be in the present moment is the #1 key to making healthier choices.” — Susan Albers
“Mindful eating is a way to become reacquainted with the guidance of our internal nutritionist.” — Jan Chozen Bays
“Mindful eating replaces self-criticism with self-nurturing. It replaces shame with respect for your own inner wisdom.” — Jan Chozen Bays
“Eating mindfully is the heart of awareness, which, when intertwined with gratitude, gives rise to the full experience of love and joy.” — Jon Kabat-Zinn
“Mindul eating emphasizes a spirit of exploration, experimenting and flexibility in finding ways to make use of nutritional information.” — Jean L. Kristeller
“Mindful eating is about awareness. When you eat mindfully, you slow down, pay attention to the food you’re eating, and savor every bite.” — Susan Albers
“Drink your tea slowly and reverently, as if it is the axis on which the world earth revolves—slowly, evenly, without rushing toward the future.” — Thích Nhất Hạnh
“Instead of thinking of food as the enemy, allow yourself to enjoy the process of planning and preparing meals or going out to lunch with a friend. Stay in the present moment and understand that the purpose of food is nourishment.” — Susan Albers
Bringing Mindfulness To Your Life Helps You Be Happy In The Moment
Explore why embracing mindfulness is not just a practice, but a pathway to peace amidst life’s inevitable chaos.
“Wherever you are, be there totally.” ― Eckhart Tolle
“Mindfulness is a mental activity that in due course eliminates all suffering.” ― Ayya Khema
“Worrying is stupid. It’s like walking around with an umbrella waiting for it to rain.” ― Unknown
“Be happy in the moment, that’s enough. Each moment is all we need, not more.” ― Mother Teresa
“In today’s rush, we all think too much, seek too much, want too much–and forget the joy of just being.” ― Eckhart Tolle
“We use mindfulness to observe the way we cling to pleasant experiences & push away unpleasant ones.” ― Sharon Salzberg
“Life’s most precious moments are not all loud or uproarious. Silence and stillness has its own virtues.” ― Kilroy J. Oldster
“The still waters of a lake reflect the beauty around it. When the mind is still, the beauty of the self is reflected.” ― Vanda Scaravelli
“Few of us ever live in the present. We are forever anticipating what is to come or remembering what has gone.” ― Louis L’Amour
“Mindfulness is deliberately paying full attention to what is happening around you–in your body, heart, and mind. Mindfulness is awareness without criticism or judgment.” ― Jan Chozen Bays
What Does the Term Mindfulness Mean Quotes
Each phrase is a beacon guiding us toward inner peace, understanding, and enlightenment.
“Mindfulness isn’t difficult. We just need to remember to do it.” ― Sharon Salzberg
“Mindfulness is the miracle by which we master and restore ourselves.” ― Thich Nhat Hanh
“The only way to live is by accepting each minute as an unrepeatable miracle.” ― Tara Brach
“Mindfulness helps us to live in harmony with our thoughts, words, and actions.” ― Amit Ray
“The body benefits from movement, and the mind benefits from stillness.” ― Sakyong Mipham
“Mindfulness is a pause–the space between stimulus and response: that’s where choice lies.” ― Tara Brach
“Meditation goes in. Prayer goes out. But both aim for the same place of union between you and the Divine.” ― Lisa Jones
“Mindful and creative, a child who has neither a past, nor examples to follow, nor value judgments, simply lives, speaks, and plays in freedom.” ― Arnaud Desjardins
“Cultivating a generous spirit starts with mindfulness. Mindfulness, simply stated, means paying attention to what is happening; it’s about what is really going on.” ― Nell Newman
“Mindfulness is simply being aware of what is happening right now without wishing it were different; enjoying the pleasant without holding on when it changes (which it will); being with the unpleasant without fearing it will always be this way (which it won’t).” ― James Baraz
Mindfulness Quotes You Might Find Amusing or Helpful in Your Everyday Life
“You’ve mastered the seflie. Now master thy self.” ― Unknown
“This is my secret,” he said. “I don’t mind what happens.” ― Eckhart Tolle
“The two most powerful warriors are patience and time.” ― Leo Tolstoy
“The mind that opens to a new idea never returns to its original size.” ― Albert Einstein
“Your calm mind is the ultimate weapon against your challenges. So relax.” ― Bryant McGill
“If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, of what, then is an empty desk a sign?” ― Albert Einstein
“Meditation is the ultimate mobile device; you can use it anywhere, anytime, unobtrusively.” ― Sharon Salzberg
“The mind is just like a muscle – the more you exercise it, the stronger it gets and the more it can expand.” ― Idowu Koyenikan
“When you open your mind, you open new doors to new possibilities for yourself and new opportunities to help others.” ― Roy T. Bennett
“It is very rare to find a human being today. They are always going somewhere, hardly ever being here. That is why I call them ‘human goings’.” ― Ajahn Brahm
Mindfulness Quotes to Improve Your Mindfulness Practice and Leadership
“Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet.” ― Thich Nhat Hanh
- “The present moment is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive, you will see it.” ― Thich Nhat Hanh
“Mindful leadership keeps you cool and energetic in any situation so that you can make the best possible decisions.” ― Amit Ray
- “Nothing is worth more than this day. You cannot relive yesterday. Tomorrow is still beyond your reach.” ― Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
“The study of modern mindfulness meditation and emotional intelligence is deeply rooted in the ancient Vipassana meditation techniques.” ― Amit Ray
“We are constantly evolving as we are interacting with the world. Mindfulness and growth mindset drives our evolution faster and on right tracks.” ― Amit Ray
“Mindfulness is not concerned with anything transcendent or divine. It serves as an antidote to theism, a cure for sentimental piety, a scalpel for excising the tumor of metaphysical belief.” ― Stephen Batchelor
“You must not hate those who do wrong or harmful things, but with compassion, you must do what you can to stop them–for they are harming themselves, as well as those who suffer from their actions.” — Dalai Lama
“People usually consider walking on water or in thin air a miracle. But I think the real miracle is not to walk either on water or in thin air, but to walk on earth. Every day we are engaged in a miracle which we don’t even recognize: a blue sky, white clouds, green leaves, the black, curious eyes of a child-our own two eyes. All is a miracle.” ― Thich Nhat Hanh
The Five Precepts and Other Mindfulness Quotes from Jack Kornfield
- “Let go of the battle. Breathe quietly and let it be. Let your body relax and your heart soften.” ― Jack Kornfield
- “The mindfulness of eating is a practice of gratitude, a ritual of appreciation, and a dedication to presence.” ― Jack Kornfield
“When we get too caught up in the busyness of the world, we lose connection with one another—and ourselves.” ― Jack Kornfield
- “Refraining from stealing: care with material goods. Undertake for one week to act on every single thought of generosity that arises spontaneously in your heart.” ― Jack Kornfield
- “Refraining from false speech: speech from the heart. Undertake for one week not to gossip (positively or negatively) or speak about anyone you know who is not present with you (any third party).” ― Jack Kornfield
- “Refrain from killing: reverence for life. Undertake for one week to purposefully bring no harm in thought, word, or deed to any living creature. Particularly, become aware of any living beings in your world (people, animals, even plants) whom you ignore, and cultivate a sense of care and reverence for them too.” ― Jack Kornfield
- “Refraining from intoxicants to the point of heedlessness. Undertake for one week or one month to refrain from all intoxicants and addictive substances (such as wine, marijuana, even cigarettes, and/or caffeine if you wish). Observe the impulses to use these and become aware of what is going on in the heart and mind at the time of those impulses.” ― Jack Kornfield
- “Refraining from sexual misconduct: conscious sexuality. Undertake for one week to observe meticulously how often sexual feelings arise in your consciousness. Each time, note what particular mind states you find associated with them, such as love, tension, compulsion, caring, loneliness, desire for communication, greed, pleasure, aggression, and so forth.” ― Jack Kornfield
The Impact of Mindfulness on Mental Health
The wisdom encapsulated in mindfulness quotes illuminates the path to a more peaceful and centered life, significantly benefiting our mental health. Through the practice of mindfulness meditation, we learn to cultivate a space of calm in our minds, allowing us to approach life’s challenges with equanimity and resilience.
The benefits extend beyond the meditation cushion, profoundly affecting our post meditation period. This is a time when the stillness and clarity gained during meditation seep into the fabric of our everyday lives, enhancing our ability to respond rather than react to stressors.
Mindfulness practice, reinforced by the profound insights of mindfulness quotes, acts as a powerful tool. It teaches us to recognize and accept our thoughts and feelings without judgment, leading to reduced stress, anxiety, and depression.
By integrating mindfulness meditation and its principles into our daily routine, we not only improve our immediate mental well-being, but also set the foundation for long-term emotional health.
Start Being More Aware Today By Practicing Mindfulness
The power of mindfulness quotes extends far beyond mere words on a page. Hopefully, phrases are beacons of light guiding us toward deeper understanding and engagement with our mindfulness meditation and practice.
Each mindfulness quote is a reminder of the transformative potential that mindfulness holds—not just as a technique, but as a way of life. Embracing these insights can profoundly impact how we navigate our daily lives, offering clarity, peace, and a deeper connection to the present moment.
Let these quotes be a daily reminder of your strength to cultivate mindfulness in the current moment of your life.
As we navigate this path, we uncover a more mindful, compassionate, and fulfilling way of living grounded in the present moment and enriched by the profound truths of mindfulness.
Dive into a world of tranquility and imagination with our “Mindful Moments” collection of adult coloring pages. Each coloring page is a unique journey into themes of mindfulness, time, and the interconnectedness of life, designed to inspire peace, creativity, and contemplation.
Let us know your favorite mindfulness quotes in the comment section below.