Zen Quotes

“The problem is that you THINK that you have to be motivated to do something, instead of just doing it and then having it done. Tip: The willingness to do things comes with action. Don’t wait until you feel like going to the gym and exercising. Start exercising right away and there’s a huge possibility that you’ll feel the desire to continue.”
― Ian Tuhovsky, Zen: Beginner's Guide: Happy, Peaceful and Focused Lifestyle for Everyone (Buddhism, Meditation, Mindfulness, Success)

“When psychotherapists studying the art of achievement analyzed the language and thought patterns of the most successful people, they discovered a very interesting thing.  Those people never talked about having to do something - they talked about making certain choices, because even if someone puts a gun to your head, you still do have a choice. It can be a crappy choice, but you have it. In this case you can either do what they tell you to do or you can ignore them.”
― Ian Tuhovsky, Zen: Beginner's Guide: Happy, Peaceful and Focused Lifestyle for Everyone (Buddhism, Meditation, Mindfulness, Success)

“De-clutter your life by getting rid of unnecessary commitments.”
― Ian Tuhovsky, Zen: Beginner's Guide: Happy, Peaceful and Focused Lifestyle for Everyone (Buddhism, Meditation, Mindfulness, Success)

“Also, stop correcting people all the time, preaching to them and commenting on all the subjects you have no idea about.”
― Ian Tuhovsky, Zen: Beginner's Guide: Happy, Peaceful and Focused Lifestyle for Everyone (Buddhism, Meditation, Mindfulness, Success)

“If you don’t take things personally, you can’t even complain.”
― Ian Tuhovsky, Zen: Beginner's Guide: Happy, Peaceful and Focused Lifestyle for Everyone (Buddhism, Meditation, Mindfulness, Success)

“If you’re not 100% committed to what you do (even if it’s just your chore which you have to do), then why do anything at all?”
― Ian Tuhovsky, Zen: Beginner's Guide: Happy, Peaceful and Focused Lifestyle for Everyone (Buddhism, Meditation, Mindfulness, Success)

“Disconnect your behavior from your emotional life. That’s what Zen teaches us.”
― Ian Tuhovsky, Zen: Beginner's Guide: Happy, Peaceful and Focused Lifestyle for Everyone (Buddhism, Meditation, Mindfulness, Success)

“Honestly realize and accept the fact that everything is not within your control.”
― Ian Tuhovsky, Zen: Beginner's Guide: Happy, Peaceful and Focused Lifestyle for Everyone (Buddhism, Meditation, Mindfulness, Success)

“All of these things that we have been looking for in other places have been available all along, closer than we thought.”
― Ian Tuhovsky, Zen: Beginner's Guide: Happy, Peaceful and Focused Lifestyle for Everyone (Buddhism, Meditation, Mindfulness, Success)

“recommend that you Google and read about “The Mouse Utopia Experiment.”  Eye-opening.”
― Ian Tuhovsky, Zen: Beginner's Guide: Happy, Peaceful and Focused Lifestyle for Everyone (Buddhism, Meditation, Mindfulness, Success)

“I’m always totally surprised whenever I find out how many people still hang out with “friends” they now almost hate, just because “they’re old friends.” Respect yourself, respect your time and respect your mind. Cut out wilted passions and old hobbies that no longer serve you and no longer make you happy. Cut out the food that doesn’t serve you. Cut out your job if it makes you miserable. No, not right now . . . find another way to earn enough to pay for your food, shelter and bills first, but come up with a PLAN to ultimately do it. The feeling of control will keep you focused, present and clear.”
― Ian Tuhovsky, Zen: Beginner's Guide: Happy, Peaceful and Focused Lifestyle for Everyone (Buddhism, Meditation, Mindfulness, Success)

“Weak people revenge, strong people forgive, intelligent people ignore.”
― Ian Tuhovsky, Zen: Beginner's Guide: Happy, Peaceful and Focused Lifestyle for Everyone (Buddhism, Meditation, Mindfulness, Success)

“Look - what society sells us is that you need self-esteem, motivation and the right self-image to even get started with achieving your goals and being happy. Now here’s the joke - you gain your self-esteem and self-confidence thanks to your effective action and the result it brings, not the other way around. You can actually start with ZERO or almost NEGATIVE self-confidence and a totally wrecked self-image (that’s what I did). That’s a result - not the cause. Do you lack self-worth, motivation and blah-blah-blah or what-not? Disconnect your behavior from your emotional life.”
― Ian Tuhovsky, Zen: Beginner's Guide: Happy, Peaceful and Focused Lifestyle for Everyone (Buddhism, Meditation, Mindfulness, Success)

“Another problem is worrying that we are worried, which is making a problem out of a problem, and then making a problem that we made a problem out of the problem.”
― Ian Tuhovsky, Zen: Beginner's Guide: Happy, Peaceful and Focused Lifestyle for Everyone (Buddhism, Meditation, Mindfulness, Success)

“the fact that you are not motivated to do something is not a problem. The problem is that you THINK that you have to be motivated to do something, instead of just doing it and then having it done. Tip: The willingness to do things comes with action.”
― Ian Tuhovsky, Zen: Beginner's Guide: Happy, Peaceful and Focused Lifestyle for Everyone (Buddhism, Meditation, Mindfulness, Success)

“It is just as important for us to de-clutter our lives as it is to de-clutter our minds. Living Zen is the epitome of living simply. The more minimalistic your life, the more freely you will be able to truly live it.”
― Ian Tuhovsky, Zen: Beginner's Guide: Happy, Peaceful and Focused Lifestyle for Everyone (Buddhism, Meditation, Mindfulness, Success)

“Learn how to say no to new commitments. Be more selfish with your time.”
― Ian Tuhovsky, Zen: Beginner's Guide: Happy, Peaceful and Focused Lifestyle for Everyone (Buddhism, Meditation, Mindfulness, Success)

“Think Creatively When we have a clear mind and quiet surroundings, our creative minds can run freely. There is no one to judge you, no one to distract you. Some of the most innovative, ground breaking ideas were conceived during moments of solitude.”
― Ian Tuhovsky, Zen: Beginner's Guide: Happy, Peaceful and Focused Lifestyle for Everyone (Buddhism, Meditation, Mindfulness, Success)

“in Zen, meditation is key to getting to know and find our true selves.”
― Ian Tuhovsky, Zen: Beginner's Guide: Happy, Peaceful and Focused Lifestyle for Everyone (Buddhism, Meditation, Mindfulness, Success)

“Another interesting concept for you - life is just a game. Buddhism teaches us than nothing is truly real and this world is an illusion of our own perception, as we are too limited to fully see the world as it is. So the game is played both externally and internally - inside of you.”
― Ian Tuhovsky, Zen: Beginner's Guide: Happy, Peaceful and Focused Lifestyle for Everyone (Buddhism, Meditation, Mindfulness, Success)

“In order to live Zen, we must experience every moment fully while engaged in it. This concept seems so simple, yet it had a profound effect on my entire life.”
― Ian Tuhovsky, Zen: Beginner's Guide: Happy, Peaceful and Focused Lifestyle for Everyone (Buddhism, Meditation, Mindfulness, Success)

“Children from broken homes sometimes develop serious emotional issues which can result in delinquency or even substance abuse.”
― Ian Tuhovsky, Zen: Beginner's Guide: Happy, Peaceful and Focused Lifestyle for Everyone (Buddhism, Meditation, Mindfulness, Success)

“Do not engage in any behavior or indulge in any thought brought on by the Three Root Poisons: greed, anger, and ignorance.”
― Ian Tuhovsky, Zen: Beginner's Guide: Happy, Peaceful and Focused Lifestyle for Everyone (Buddhism, Meditation, Mindfulness, Success)

“Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet.” 
― Thích Nhất Hạnh”
― Ian Tuhovsky, Zen: Beginner's Guide: Happy, Peaceful and Focused Lifestyle for Everyone (Buddhism, Meditation, Mindfulness, Success)

“You gain your self-confidence and effectiveness by facing your responsibilities EVERY DAY and overcoming the challenges that life brings you every day.”
― Ian Tuhovsky, Zen: Beginner's Guide: Happy, Peaceful and Focused Lifestyle for Everyone (Buddhism, Meditation, Mindfulness, Success)

“Body Positioning: Your back and neck must be straight, your head will sit comfortably, and your teeth should touch but not be clenched. Focus on your breath and relax your mind. Count each time that you inhale and each time that you exhale. Once you reach ten, start back at one. When you start to drift and begin thinking a thought, just observe it, let it go, and start focusing on the breath again. It’s perfectly normal that you drift off as a beginner. Now, begin counting at one. Keep doing this for the amount of time that you set aside. 15 minutes is good for a beginner. Then, after a few days, you should go for 20 minutes. Once you can get to ten without having to start over, count the inhale and exhale together until you reach ten. As you get better at focusing, you will be able to simply turn your attention to your breath without the need for counting. You will be able to move around in the quiet and stillness you have created. Observe your inner self and all that is around you, using all of your senses.”
― Ian Tuhovsky, Zen: Beginner's Guide: Happy, Peaceful and Focused Lifestyle for Everyone (Buddhism, Meditation, Mindfulness, Success)

“This form of meditation requires us to remain in the moment that we are currently experiencing. We are to observe thoughts, senses, and emotions, but at a distance, allowing each to just pass by like a leaf in the wind. It is the practice of not actively thinking. Zazen is simply experiencing being alive while being still. It is important to utilize zazen without any preconceived notions of what you are trying to gain. If you practice zazen with expectations, you are definitely defeating the purpose and it will be difficult for you to simply sit. You must sit without a goal. Zazen is known as a “non-seeking practice.” The object is to experience the very moment that you are living and feel what it is to be alive.”
― Ian Tuhovsky, Zen: Beginner's Guide: Happy, Peaceful and Focused Lifestyle for Everyone (Buddhism, Meditation, Mindfulness, Success)

“What we want to do is take a step back from thinking our thoughts, instead, we want to observe them. In order to do this we need to let go of our thoughts. Watch them pass through your brain like leaves in the wind. You will find yourself having to refocus and let go of thoughts as they come. Anytime you feel like you are thinking a thought instead of merely observing it, let it go, don’t cling to it, don’t continue it – you don’t have to. This”
― Ian Tuhovsky, Zen: Beginner's Guide: Happy, Peaceful and Focused Lifestyle for Everyone (Buddhism, Meditation, Mindfulness, Success)

“Overall, the goal of Zen Meditation is to see things for what they really are. This includes yourself and the world around you.”
― Ian Tuhovsky, Zen: Beginner's Guide: Happy, Peaceful and Focused Lifestyle for Everyone (Buddhism, Meditation, Mindfulness, Success)

“Just as a cloud momentarily blocks the sun, emotions and thoughts (when actively felt, thought, or pursued) temporarily block the radiance of the mind.”
― Ian Tuhovsky, Zen: Beginner's Guide: Happy, Peaceful and Focused Lifestyle for Everyone (Buddhism, Meditation, Mindfulness, Success)