What is this true meditation? It is to make everything: coughing, swallowing, waving the arms, motion, stillness, words, action, the evil and the good, prosperity and shame, gain and loss, right and wrong, into one single koan.
Hakuin EkakuRead
Meditation in the midst of activity is a thousand times superior to meditation in stillness.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Meditation during busy times is far more valuable than meditation in peace.
This quote emphasizes the importance of maintaining a meditative state of mind, even amid chaos and activity. It suggests that true mastery and understanding of meditation come not from retreating into silence, but by being present and centered while engaging in the busyness of daily life.
Themes
MeditationActivityStillnessPresenceMindfulness
In practice
Example use cases
In a stressful work meeting, I found clarity through mindful breathing, living the quote's essence.
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At this moment, is there anything lacking? Nirvana is right here now before our eyes. This place is the lotus land. This body now is the Buddha.
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All beings are by nature are Buddhas, as ice by nature is water. Apart from water there is no ice; apart from beings, no Buddhas.
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