Zen Quotes on Stillness & Silence
12 real, sourced lines — every attribution checked
Stillness is not empty — it is where everything finally becomes audible. Lines on quiet, from teachers who treated silence as a teaching in itself.
The quotes
“Breathing in, I calm body and mind. Breathing out, I smile.”
“Silence is essential. We need silence just as much as we need air, just as much as plants need light.”
“Nothing outside yourself can cause any trouble. You yourself make the waves in your mind.”
“If you want to obtain perfect calmness in your zazen, you should not be bothered by the various images you find in your mind.”
“Calmness of mind does not mean you should stop your activity. Real calmness should be found in activity itself.”
“The more you talk and think about it, the further astray you wander from the truth.”
— Sengcan
“Be still within and without. Let things take their course.”
— Sengcan
“Just put thoughts to rest and don't seek outwardly anymore.”
“The whole night through, rain upon the roof. My idle thoughts turn to things of long ago.”
— Ryokan
“When the deep meaning of things is not understood, the mind's essential peace is disturbed.”
— Sengcan
“You should stop pursuing words and letters, and learn to withdraw and reflect on yourself.”
— Dogen
“Do not use your mind to think about mind. Do not use your words to talk about words.”
— Dogen
More themes
Letting GoImpermanence & Changethe Present MomentInner PeaceAcceptanceSimplicity & the Ordinary LifeAll themes →
One teaching like this each morning — and Mu, a companion who remembers your path.
Get Mushin · free