MINDFULNESS

PRACTITIONER
COURSE

LEVEL I, II, III &

MASTER

50 QUOTES FOR
REFLECTING UPON
 50 QUOTES FOR REFLECTING UPON

Many people who live life in a constant state of mindlessness will often find
themselves lost and without purpose or direction in life. This is a scary
thought, but unfortunately, is a reality for many.

When we are not mindfully aware of where we are (or where we are going in
life), we can end up somewhere far away from where we want to be; relationally,
spiritually, professionally or otherwise.

These 50 famous quotes have been taken from many of the greatest thinkers
from over the years. The power of self-reflection can serve to keep us in check,
to keep us focused on self-improvement and mindfully aware of the way in
which we are living our lives.

Take 2-3 minutes to meditate (or ponder/reflect) upon each of the quotes and
consider what each of them might mean in regards to the more mindfully aware
way in which you might begin living your life today.

1) “The best way to capture moments is to pay attention. This is how we cultivate
mindfulness.” – Jon Kabat-Zinn

Your Thoughts, Ideas or Reflections:

2) “I’m not in this world to live up to your expectations, and you’re not in this
world to live up to mine.” ― Bruce Lee

Your Thoughts, Ideas or Reflections:

3) “Mindfulness means being awake. It means knowing what you are doing.” –
Jon Kabat-Zinn

Your Thoughts, Ideas or Reflections:

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4) “To think in terms of either pessimism or optimism oversimplifies the truth. The
problem is to see reality as it is.” – Thích Nhất Hạnh

Your Thoughts, Ideas or Reflections:

5) “Many people are alive but don’t touch the miracle of being alive.” – Thích
Nhất Hạnh

Your Thoughts, Ideas or Reflections:

6) “Don’t do any task in order to get it over with. Resolve to do each job in a
relaxed way, with all your attention. Enjoy and be one with your work.” – Thích
Nhất Hạnh

Your Thoughts, Ideas or Reflections:

7) “The present moment is the only time over which we have dominion.” – Thích
Nhất Hạnh

Your Thoughts, Ideas or Reflections:

8) “Don’t believe everything you think. Thoughts are just that – thoughts.” – Allan
Lokos

Your Thoughts, Ideas or Reflections:

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9) “Live the actual moment. Only this actual moment is life.” – Thích Nhất Hạnh

Your Thoughts, Ideas or Reflections:

10) “Meditation is not evasion; it is a serene encounter with reality.” – Thích Nhất
Hạnh

Your Thoughts, Ideas or Reflections:

11) “When we get too caught up in the busyness of the world, we lose
connection with one another – and ourselves.” – Jack Kornfield

Your Thoughts, Ideas or Reflections:

12) “Everything that has a beginning has an ending. Make your peace with that
and all will be well.” – Jack Kornfield

Your Thoughts, Ideas or Reflections:

13) “Wisdom says we are nothing. Love says we are everything. Between these
two our life flows.” – Jack Kornfield

Your Thoughts, Ideas or Reflections:

 50 QUOTES FOR REFLECTING UPON

14) “The things that matter most in our lives are not fantastic or grand. They are
moments when we connect with one another.” – Jack Kornfield

Your Thoughts, Ideas or Reflections:

15) “It is unwise to be too sure of one's own wisdom. It is healthy to be reminded
that the strongest might weaken and the wisest might err.” ― Mahatma Gandhi

Your Thoughts, Ideas or Reflections:

16) “Much of spiritual life is self-acceptance, maybe all of it.” – Jack Kornfield

Your Thoughts, Ideas or Reflections:

17) “Notice what’s comfortable and what is uncomfortable.” – Jack Kornfield

Your Thoughts, Ideas or Reflections:

18) “Fear is a natural reaction to moving closer to the truth.” – Pema Chödrön

Your Thoughts, Ideas or Reflections:

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19) “Nothing ever goes away until it has taught us what we need to know.” –
Pema Chödrön

Your Thoughts, Ideas or Reflections:

20) “The essence of bravery is being without self-deception.” – Pema Chödrön

Your Thoughts, Ideas or Reflections:

21) “Mindfulness practice isn’t about trying to throw ourselves away and become
something better. It’s about befriending who we already are.” – Pema Chödrön

Your Thoughts, Ideas or Reflections:

22) “Each moment is an opportunity to make a fresh start.” – Pema Chödrön

Your Thoughts, Ideas or Reflections:

23) “Rejoicing in ordinary things is not sentimental or trite. It actually takes guts.”
– Pema Chödrön

Your Thoughts, Ideas or Reflections:

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24) “Altogether, the idea of meditation is not to create states of ecstasy or

absorption, but to experience being.” – Chögyam Trungpa

Your Thoughts, Ideas or Reflections:

25) “Mindfulness isn’t difficult; we just need to remember to do it.” – Sharon

Salzberg

Your Thoughts, Ideas or Reflections:

26) “You cannot control the results, only your actions.” – Allan Lokos

Your Thoughts, Ideas or Reflections:

27) “The art of peaceful living comes down to living compassionately & wisely.” –
Allan Lokos

Your Thoughts, Ideas or Reflections:

28) “If you want to conquer the anxiety of life, live in the moment, live in the
breath.” – Amit Ray

Your Thoughts, Ideas or Reflections:

 50 QUOTES FOR REFLECTING UPON

29) “Expectation has brought me disappointment. Disappointment has brought

me wisdom. Acceptance, gratitude and appreciation have brought me joy and
fulfilment.” – Rasheed Ogunlaru

Your Thoughts, Ideas or Reflections:

30) “Happiness is not a thing – it is a feeling; a way of joyful living and being. It
comes from inner fulfilment and appreciating the world you live in.” – Rasheed
Ogunlaru

Your Thoughts, Ideas or Reflections:

31) “Step outside for a while – calm your mind. It is better to hug a tree than to
bang your head against a wall continually.” – Rasheed Ogunlaru

Your Thoughts, Ideas or Reflections:

32) “A few simple tips for life: feet on the ground, head to the skies, heart
open…quiet mind.” – Rasheed Ogunlaru

Your Thoughts, Ideas or Reflections:

33) “How you look at it is pretty much how you’ll see it.” – Rasheed Ogunlaru

Your Thoughts, Ideas or Reflections:

 50 QUOTES FOR REFLECTING UPON

34) “The Way is not in the sky, the Way is in the heart.” – Buddha

Your Thoughts, Ideas or Reflections:

35) “You only lose what you cling to.” – Buddha

Your Thoughts, Ideas or Reflections:

36) “Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.” – Buddha

Your Thoughts, Ideas or Reflections:

37) “Three things can not hide for long: the Moon, the Sun and the Truth.” –
Buddha

Your Thoughts, Ideas or Reflections:

38) “Nothing can harm you as much as your own thoughts unguarded.” – Buddha

Your Thoughts, Ideas or Reflections:

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39) “Attachment leads to suffering.” – Buddha

Your Thoughts, Ideas or Reflections:

40) “Nothing is forever except change.” – Buddha

Your Thoughts, Ideas or Reflections:

41) “Just as a snake sheds its skin, we must shed our past over and over again.” –
Buddha

Your Thoughts, Ideas or Reflections:

42) “Every experience, no matter how bad it seems, holds within it a blessing of
some kind. The goal is to find it.” – Buddha

Your Thoughts, Ideas or Reflections:

43) “Our life is shaped by our mind, for we become what we think.” – Buddha

Your Thoughts, Ideas or Reflections:

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44) “With our thoughts, we make the world.” – Buddha

Your Thoughts, Ideas or Reflections:

45) “Be where you are; otherwise, you will miss your life.” – Buddha

Your Thoughts, Ideas or Reflections:

46) “Be unto other people the kind of person whom you’d have them be unto
you” - Jesus Christ

Your Thoughts, Ideas or Reflections:

47) “If the problem can be solved why worry? If the problem cannot be solved
worrying will do you no good.” – Buddha

Your Thoughts, Ideas or Reflections:

48) “Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind
on the present moment.” – Buddha

Your Thoughts, Ideas or Reflections:

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49) “If you are facing in the right direction, all you need to do is keep on walking.”
– Buddha

Your Thoughts, Ideas or Reflections:

50) “You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.” – Jon Kabat-Zinn

Your Thoughts, Ideas or Reflections:

BONUS QUOTE: “Every morning we are born again. What we do today is what

matters most.” –  Buddha

Your Thoughts, Ideas or Reflection