This meditation quote, by Shunryu Suzuki, makes for deep contemplation. To get even more out of it, try implementing it in your daily life – starting today.

We talk a lot about focusing on your breath when meditating, for several reasons:

1. It makes for a great inward focus
2. For beginners it is a great first meditation technique to learn and practice
3. In times of stress or struggle, when you need to regain balance and some inner peace, you can always close your eyes and pay attention to your breath for a quick “reset”

But there are also other ways to meditate, both for beginners and advanced meditators.

Many meditation masters talk about a “true meditation”, free from concentration and selective focus. Adyashanti even wrote a whole book about it.

We also have mindfulness , which is “the intentional, accepting and non-judgmental focus of one’s attention on the emotions, thoughts and sensations occurring in the present moment”(1).

And I believe that to be the essence of what Suzuki is talking about in his quote – limiting your activity, being present in the moment, observing it, letting go, and just existing as the observer.

“You may think that if there is no purpose or no goal in our practice, we will not know what to do. But there is a way. The way to practice without having any goal is to limit your activity, or to be concentrated on what you are doing in this moment. When your mind is wandering about elsewhere you have no chance to express yourself. But if your limit your activity to what you can do just now, in this moment, then you can express fully your true nature.” – Shunryu Suzuki

Ever felt moments of being fully present? Or having a hard time dealing with this concept? Comment below, and share your thoughts with us…