“As we practice meditation, we get used to stillness and eventually are able to makefriends with the quietness of our sensations.”

“Patanjali says that we can meditate on anything that our heart desires. The important thing is not what we meditate on, but more that we meditate. And then gradually to meditate more and more on what corresponds to the innermost longing of our heart. The practice of meditation . . . gradually works its magic in stilling the mind. (42)”

“Before practicing meditation, we see that mountains are mountains.When we start to practice, we see that mountains are no longer mountains.After practicing a while, we see that mountains are again mountains.Now the mountains are very free. Our mind is still with the mountains,but it is no longer bound to anything.”

“Meditation is a microcosm, a model, a mirror. The skills we practice when we sit are transferable to the rest of our lives.”

“By practicing meditation we establish love, compassion, sympathetic joy & equanimity as our home.”

“When even one virtue becomes our nature, the mind becomes clean and tranquil. Then there is no need to practice meditation; we will automatically be meditating always. (151)”