Zen Quotes

“we are basically clinging on to certain outcomes that just aren’t natural or even possible. By holding on to these unrealistic ideas and expectations, we are basically resisting the reality of the situation, resulting in even more pain and suffering. The”
― Alexis G. Roldan, Zen: The Ultimate Zen Beginner’s Guide: Simple And Effective Zen Concepts For Living A Happier and More Peaceful Life

“As with most exercises, you have to practice to increase your endurance, and since meditation exercises your mind, it is very important to pace yourself.”
― Alexis G. Roldan, Zen: The Ultimate Zen Beginner’s Guide: Simple And Effective Zen Concepts For Living A Happier and More Peaceful Life

“Knowing something is not enough, doing something with what you know is the key. After all, that’s where wisdom comes from.”
― Alexis G. Roldan, Zen: The Ultimate Zen Beginner’s Guide: Simple And Effective Zen Concepts For Living A Happier and More Peaceful Life

“we begin to create separations and become judgmental of others. Contrary to what the world around us is trying to teach, having this type of obsessed competitive attitude will only set you up for much suffering down the road.”
― Alexis G. Roldan, Zen: The Ultimate Zen Beginner’s Guide: Simple And Effective Zen Concepts For Living A Happier and More Peaceful Life

“Stop Competing With Everyone Competition can be healthy, and even fun at times, as long as we are not too attached to the end result.”
― Alexis G. Roldan, Zen: The Ultimate Zen Beginner’s Guide: Simple And Effective Zen Concepts For Living A Happier and More Peaceful Life

“Stop Comparing Yourself to Others The only thing that you will gain by comparing yourself, and your current situation, to others is pain. When you compare yourself to others, you are opening yourself up to feeling less about yourself.”
― Alexis G. Roldan, Zen: The Ultimate Zen Beginner’s Guide: Simple And Effective Zen Concepts For Living A Happier and More Peaceful Life

“10.    Get Organized And Eliminate The Mess Organize your rooms in such a way that everything has a place. Remember to keep accessories and trinkets to a bare minimum, or just eliminate them altogether. Having too much clutter in a room can interfere with relaxation. Clean out your room on a regular basis and only allow the essentials to stay in the room. You may eventually add other pieces of furniture and accessories as long as they add to your peace and bring you comfort.”
― Alexis G. Roldan, Zen: The Ultimate Zen Beginner’s Guide: Simple And Effective Zen Concepts For Living A Happier and More Peaceful Life

“when it comes to interior design, Zen is a true reflection of balance, peace and harmony. Even though Zen is not an official design style and does not come with a list of strict rules, it is often sought after due to its minimalism, simplicity and purity of lines. It is more of a way to arrange your home such that it creates an atmosphere that will offset the stresses and problems of your daily life.”
― Alexis G. Roldan, Zen: The Ultimate Zen Beginner’s Guide: Simple And Effective Zen Concepts For Living A Happier and More Peaceful Life

“Today is a day of practice. You are to combine the exercises of the past week in a way that works best for you. Here are some combinations for inspiration: Thinking about becoming an artist? Practice image meditation while breathing through your nostrils to help stimulate your mind and bring inspiration to you. Having trouble getting some sleep? Empty your mind using the balloon visualization technique while you practice circle breathing. Picture the balloon within your mind floating away, making sure to do it every time you exhale. Did someone do something to upset you? Find your center and breathe as deeply as you can while clearing your mind. Acknowledge all that you are feeling as you breathe, but dismiss feelings as soon as the thoughts occur.”
― Alexis G. Roldan, Zen: The Ultimate Zen Beginner’s Guide: Simple And Effective Zen Concepts For Living A Happier and More Peaceful Life

“Today we will practice the mindful contemplation of an image. You may select whatever image you would like to look at, something you find calming and positive. Your image could be a painting, a computer desktop, the view out of your window, or a blank wall. Sit yourself comfortably before your selected image and begin your breathing exercise of choice.  Look at the image. Do not strain your eyes. Let your eyes rest on it. See the features of the image. Your eyes slide over it, recognizing the beauty in the image. Notice details you may have missed with a hurried glance. Notice the edges, the contours, the colors, the scrapes, the marks, the lines, patterns. Only focus on the image, so all other thoughts are let go. Be in the now. When you are ready, you may return your attention to your surroundings. You can use this practice of image meditation when you are in situations where closing your eyes for extended times may not be possible, or if you simply see a sight you would like to remember. ”
― Alexis G. Roldan, Zen: The Ultimate Zen Beginner’s Guide: Simple And Effective Zen Concepts For Living A Happier and More Peaceful Life

“Inspirational Quote for the Day: “With the use of meditation we can learn to give our full attention to one thing at a time, while learning to focus on whatever we solely choose.” Time”
― Alexis G. Roldan, Zen: The Ultimate Zen Beginner’s Guide: Simple And Effective Zen Concepts For Living A Happier and More Peaceful Life

“Close your eyes if you wish and begin the breathing exercise that works best for you. Let yourself relax, as we get ready to clear your mind. Feel your mind start to empty. When a thought pops up disrupting this process, we want to acknowledge it, and then let it go. Imagine it vanishing away from your mind. If a certain thought remains, use one of these two visualizations to help release it. The first is to imagine tying your thought to a balloon and releasing the balloon to fly away. Feel the thought float out of your mind. If that doesn’t work for you, imagine you are wrapping a present. Place your thought into the box and wrap it up. Then set it aside for later. Repeat this process until your mind is emptied of thoughts and concerns. Enjoy the calmness of your mind. When you are ready, open your eyes. ”
― Alexis G. Roldan, Zen: The Ultimate Zen Beginner’s Guide: Simple And Effective Zen Concepts For Living A Happier and More Peaceful Life

“Sit and let your body relax. Find the rhythm of deep breathing that has worked best for you so far. Breathe in, breathe out. Be aware of your breath as we continue with this meditation. Close your eyes if you wish. Let the muscles in your face relax. Release the tension in your jaw. To release tension in your neck, let your head hang forward, and then roll it gently around, making sure to stretch your neck muscles often. We are going to empty your mind. Empty it of worries. Empty it of cares. We are going to just let go. With your eyes closed, feel your mind become a void. Let your concerns and stress slip away. You may wish to visualize darkness or light filling your mind. This is not a painful emptiness. It is a soothing absence of thought. Your mind is calm. Become aware of your body. Notice your breathing and heartbeat. Breathe and relax in the silence until you are ready to open your eyes. Repeat again for three minutes later in the day. ”
― Alexis G. Roldan, Zen: The Ultimate Zen Beginner’s Guide: Simple And Effective Zen Concepts For Living A Happier and More Peaceful Life

“Sit and let your body relax. Find the rhythm of deep breathing that has worked best for you so far. Breathe in, breathe out. Be aware of your breath as we continue with this meditation. Close your eyes if you wish. Let the muscles in your face relax. Release the tension in your jaw. To release tension in your neck, let your head hang forward, and then roll it gently around, making sure to stretch your neck muscles often. We are going to empty your mind. Empty it of worries. Empty it of cares. We are going to just let go. With your eyes closed, feel your mind become a void. Let your concerns and stress slip away. You may wish to visualize darkness or light filling your mind. This is not a painful emptiness. It is a soothing absence of thought. Your mind is calm. Become aware of your body. Notice your breathing and heartbeat. Breathe and relax in the silence until you are ready to open your eyes. Repeat again for three minutes later in the”
― Alexis G. Roldan, Zen: The Ultimate Zen Beginner’s Guide: Simple And Effective Zen Concepts For Living A Happier and More Peaceful Life

“Place your thumb and index fingers over your nose as if you were going to pinch it shut. With either one (this depends on which hand you are using, left or right) close your left nostril. Breathe in through your right nostril. Now, switch your finger to close your right nostril, and exhale out of your left nostril. Now inhale through your left nostril. Switch your fingers to close your left nostril, and breathe out through your right nostril. Repeat this pattern until you feel completely relaxed, or until the time is up. Do this twice today for three minutes each, but you can always repeat it as often as you’d like. Day”
― Alexis G. Roldan, Zen: The Ultimate Zen Beginner’s Guide: Simple And Effective Zen Concepts For Living A Happier and More Peaceful Life

“Today we are going to balance our energies by alternating breathing through our nostrils. Breathing through one nostril helps stimulate the functioning of the matching brain hemisphere, and when you alternate between the two nostrils, you increase communication between the two halves of your brain, improving overall brain function. This is a great way to find the balance that you need on a busy day rather quickly. Find”
― Alexis G. Roldan, Zen: The Ultimate Zen Beginner’s Guide: Simple And Effective Zen Concepts For Living A Happier and More Peaceful Life

“Breathe in through your nose for four counts, “One, two, three, and four.” Try holding the breath in for four counts, “One, two, three, and four.” Exhale through your mouth for four counts, “One, two, three, and four.” You should feel your body begin to relax. Repeat this cycle. In through the nose, “One, two, three, four.” Hold, “One, two, three, four.” Release, “one, two, three, four.” With each cycle of breathing, you will feel your body release built-up stress, and your mind will starts to clear. Repeat this until the time is up or you are ready to return to your day. You can repeat it throughout the day as needed. I always recommend this type of breathing before a stressful event, such as a public presentation, since it helps you release anxiety and regain focus. ”
― Alexis G. Roldan, Zen: The Ultimate Zen Beginner’s Guide: Simple And Effective Zen Concepts For Living A Happier and More Peaceful Life

“Breathe in slowly through your nose. Feel your chest expand. Breathe out slowly through your mouth. Breathe in. Breathe out. Feel the tension of your day as you breathe in. As you breathe out, feel the tension slip away. Continue this pattern of taking slow, deep breaths. Settle into a rhythm that works for you. Feel the air filling your lungs, and the oxygen awakening your mind. When the time is up, allow yourself to return your attention to your surroundings. Now, you are ready to continue your day. You can return to this breathing exercise as often as needed throughout your day. I recommend you complete at least two three-minute sessions. Day”
― Alexis G. Roldan, Zen: The Ultimate Zen Beginner’s Guide: Simple And Effective Zen Concepts For Living A Happier and More Peaceful Life

“Try this the next time something comes up that disappoints you. Just sit back and listen to your breath, be one with it. Imagine yourself facing your challenge and just fully accept it as you take deep breaths, slowly inhaling through your nose and then slowly exhaling through your mouth. By doing this, you will begin to develop the habit of not letting things overwhelm you, and you will learn to overcome them rather than run from them.”
― Alexis G. Roldan, Zen: The Ultimate Zen Beginner’s Guide: Simple And Effective Zen Concepts For Living A Happier and More Peaceful Life

“I strongly believe that the first step you need to take to eliminate certain problems from your life is through meditation sessions. During meditation, allow yourself to accept your particular situation and allow yourself to feel any and all emotions that are tied to it. Try”
― Alexis G. Roldan, Zen: The Ultimate Zen Beginner’s Guide: Simple And Effective Zen Concepts For Living A Happier and More Peaceful Life

“The sad truth is that we have been conditioned to get away from our problems by drowning them in our different patterns of bad behavior. But the truth is that you will never learn to overcome your problems and find inner peace until you learn to face your problems and resolve them once and for all.”
― Alexis G. Roldan, Zen: The Ultimate Zen Beginner’s Guide: Simple And Effective Zen Concepts For Living A Happier and More Peaceful Life

“To clarify, things that fight against reality are those things we tend not to accept and therefore never let go.”
― Alexis G. Roldan, Zen: The Ultimate Zen Beginner’s Guide: Simple And Effective Zen Concepts For Living A Happier and More Peaceful Life

“Learn to identify The Resistances and Remove Them The resistances in your life are those things that prevent you from getting things accomplished. They are those things that tend to fight against reality”
― Alexis G. Roldan, Zen: The Ultimate Zen Beginner’s Guide: Simple And Effective Zen Concepts For Living A Happier and More Peaceful Life

“Incorporate order and structure into your life by creating daily routines. This is the only real way to fully liberate yourself, and to gain more mental energy to address what really matters. Learn”
― Alexis G. Roldan, Zen: The Ultimate Zen Beginner’s Guide: Simple And Effective Zen Concepts For Living A Happier and More Peaceful Life

“Every once in a while, go ahead and meditate without a meditation cushion. Learn to adapt and meditate in whatever environment you may be in without the need of any special equipment. One of the best and most often used positions for meditating just about anywhere without the need of a cushion is the “seiza” position. What you do is basically kneel down and sit back on top of your lower legs, resting your bottom on the soles of your feet. This is actually a very comfortable position once you get used to it and it can be done at any time and practically anywhere you may happen to be. But then again, if you find that this position is just not comfortable for you, or you have a condition that doesn’t allow you to sit like this, just remember that there is absolutely nothing wrong with meditating while sitting upright in a chair.”
― Alexis G. Roldan, Zen: The Ultimate Zen Beginner’s Guide: Simple And Effective Zen Concepts For Living A Happier and More Peaceful Life

“Position a meditation cushion in an area that you spend a lot of time in. Having it in a place that you see or sit in often will encourage you to sit and meditate,”
― Alexis G. Roldan, Zen: The Ultimate Zen Beginner’s Guide: Simple And Effective Zen Concepts For Living A Happier and More Peaceful Life

“Condition yourself to meditate in the morning, in the afternoon, and at night (even if it’s only for a few minutes at each interval) to develop powerful “anchors” that will keep you grounded throughout each and every day.”
― Alexis G. Roldan, Zen: The Ultimate Zen Beginner’s Guide: Simple And Effective Zen Concepts For Living A Happier and More Peaceful Life

“it is always recommended that you meditate every day, and preferably in the same place and at the same time. This may not always be possible, so try and find a time and place that works best for you and try to stick with it. But don’t stress if you have to change your meditation schedule a couple of times until you finally find one that works. Just keep trying new scenarios. In fact, walking meditations and mindfulness can even be practiced as you go through your regular daily activities. Meditation”
― Alexis G. Roldan, Zen: The Ultimate Zen Beginner’s Guide: Simple And Effective Zen Concepts For Living A Happier and More Peaceful Life

“Meditation reduces stress and increases mental focus. In fact, high levels of stress can damage both your mental and physical health. You can also expect to find your overall well-being improved through daily meditation. You will find that you have more energy for what you want to do as well as improved ability to concentrate on tasks while you do them. What”
― Alexis G. Roldan, Zen: The Ultimate Zen Beginner’s Guide: Simple And Effective Zen Concepts For Living A Happier and More Peaceful Life

“Learn To Laugh It Off Taking things too seriously is one of the easiest ways to lose happiness in your life. Whether it’s your own personal growth or how your life develops, learn to let things unfold and know that everything truly does happen for a reason. The more serious you are about the things that are happening in your life, the easier it is to miss out on all of the fun that you could be having by simply enjoying the process. Whatever it is that you are trying to accomplish in life, learn to have a laugh every now and then. Don’t ever let life become too serious. It’s way too short to not smile and laugh on a regular basis. What”
― Alexis G. Roldan, Zen: The Ultimate Zen Beginner’s Guide: Simple And Effective Zen Concepts For Living A Happier and More Peaceful Life