--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Don't think that only sitting with the…" description: "\"Don't think that only sitting with the eyes closed is practice. If you do think this way, then quickly change your thinking. Steady practice is keeping..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cd/ajahn-chah-4829_attitude_don-t-think-that-only-sitting-with-the-e_3229861.jpg" --- # Don't think that only sitting with the eyes closed is… ![“Don't think that only sitting with the eyes closed is practice. If you do think this way, then quickly change your thinking. Steady practice is keeping mindful in every posture, whether sitting, walking, standing or lying down. When coming out of sitting, don't think that you're coming out of…” quote by Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cd/ajahn-chah-4829_attitude_don-t-think-that-only-sitting-with-the-e_3229861.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cd/ajahn-chah-4829_attitude_don-t-think-that-only-sitting-with-the-e_3229861.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3cd/ajahn-chah-4829_attitude_don-t-think-that-only-sitting-with-the-e_3229861.jpg) > “Don't think that only sitting with the eyes closed is practice. If you do think this way, then quickly change your thinking. Steady practice is keeping mindful in every posture, whether sitting, walking, standing or lying down. When coming out of sitting, don't think that you're coming out of meditation, but that you are only changing postures. If you reflect in this way, you will have peace. Wherever you are, you will have this attitude of practice with you constantly. You will have a steady awareness within yourself.” [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Mindful awareness should be practiced in all postures, not just seated meditation. **In simple terms:** Practice mindfulness everywhere. Key Takeaway Maintain continuous mindfulness. Themes mindfulness practice awareness Mood calm focused Type spiritual instructional When to use this quote - walking meditation - standing work - lying down rest - daily routines Key Concepts Buddhist meditation daily life Questions to Reflect On - How can you integrate mindfulness into chores? - What obstacles hinder constant awareness? A Different Perspective Consistent practice requires discipline across activities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) [Awareness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awareness/) [Coming out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coming-out/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Lying down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying-down/) [Meditation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meditation/) [Posture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/posture/) [Practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [I can slay a devil when I see one, Steady practice mastery of self so not to be one](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-electronica/i-can-slay-a-devil-when-i-see-one-steady-practice-mastery-of-self-so/) [Jay Electronica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-electronica/) > [One cannot rest except after steady practice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-ade/one-cannot-rest-except-after-steady-practice/) [George Ade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-ade/) > [We have limited time in our life, therefore we should try to teach ourselves, not to teach others. We should conquer ourselves, rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/we-have-limited-time-in-our-life-therefore-we-should-try-to-teach/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [Being a player, I am supposed to train and practice and only think about my game, what I have to develop and what weaknesses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jwala-gutta/being-a-player-i-am-supposed-to-train-and-practice-and-only-think/) [Jwala Gutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jwala-gutta/) > [What I want you to do is just take it as it is. Don't think too much. If you get involved with thinking about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masaaki-hatsumi/what-i-want-you-to-do-is-just-take-it-as-it-is-don-t-think-too-much/) [Masaaki Hatsumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masaaki-hatsumi/) > [To be strategic in life is like any skill whether it's basketball or learning a language, it takes effort and practice and I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/to-be-strategic-in-life-is-like-any-skill-whether-it-s-basketball-or/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [I have done a fair bit of meditation practice, but I think through climbing it's definitely an easier way for me to tap into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-sharma/i-have-done-a-fair-bit-of-meditation-practice-but-i-think-through/) [Chris Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-sharma/) > [Our approach to practice, I think, is paramount!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cooper-kupp/our-approach-to-practice-i-think-is-paramount/) [Cooper Kupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cooper-kupp/) > [Be soft in your practice. Think of the method as a fine silvery stream, not a raging waterfall. Follow the stream, have faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheng-yen/be-soft-in-your-practice-think-of-the-method-as-a-fine-silvery-stream-2/) [Sheng-yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheng-yen/) > [Granted you want to go beyond ideas and beyond thought, but that takes years of practice. If you must think, think good thoughts, happy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/granted-you-want-to-go-beyond-ideas-and-beyond-thought-but-that-takes/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Be soft in your practice. Think of the method as a fine silvery stream, not a raging waterfall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheng-yen/be-soft-in-your-practice-think-of-the-method-as-a-fine-silvery-stream/) [Sheng-yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheng-yen/) > [It may take practice to think more positively and more compassionately, but just as you must train a puppy to behave the way you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-barrett/it-may-take-practice-to-think-more-positively-and-more/) [Tom Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-barrett/) > [I feel really good, then I start to practice, and then I think maybe in a couple of months I can come back and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-soderling/i-feel-really-good-then-i-start-to-practice-and-then-i-think-maybe-in/) [Robin Soderling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-soderling/) > [It's these small differences in people's karma that determine if we get up or remain lying on the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-h-eg/it-s-these-small-differences-in-people-s-karma-that-determine-if-we/) [Peter Høeg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-h-eg/) > [Set aside all involvements and let the myriad things rest. Zazen is not thinking of good, not thinking of bad. It is not conscious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dogen/set-aside-all-involvements-and-let-the-myriad-things-rest-zazen-is/) [Dogen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dogen/) ## More by Ajahn Chah > [If you have time to be mindful, you have time to meditate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/if-you-have-time-to-be-mindful-you-have-time-to-meditate/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [Letting go a little brings a little peace. Letting go a lot brings a lot of peace. Letting go completely brings complete peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/letting-go-a-little-brings-a-little-peace-letting-go-a-lot-brings-a/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [Mindfulness is life. Whenever we don’t have mindfulness, when we are heedless, it’s as if we are dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/mindfulness-is-life-whenever-we-don-t-have-mindfulness-when-we-are/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [We don't meditate to see heaven, but to end suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/we-don-t-meditate-to-see-heaven-but-to-end-suffering/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [Some people are afraid of generosity. They feel they will be taken advantage of or oppressed. In cultivating generosity, we are only oppressing our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/some-people-are-afraid-of-generosity-they-feel-they-will-be-taken/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [Anything which is troubling you, anything which is irritating you, THAT is your teacher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/anything-which-is-troubling-you-anything-which-is-irritating-you-that/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [Know and watch your heart. It's pure but emotions come to colour it. So let your mind be like a tightly woven net to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/know-and-watch-your-heart-it-s-pure-but-emotions-come-to-colour-it-so/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [A woman wanted to know how to deal with anger. I asked when anger arose whose anger it was. She said it was hers.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/a-woman-wanted-to-know-how-to-deal-with-anger-i-asked-when-anger/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [Sati is life. Whenever we don't have sati, when we are heedless, it's as if we are dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/sati-is-life-whenever-we-don-t-have-sati-when-we-are-heedless-it-s-as/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [In practice, some come to see easily, some with difficulty. But whatever the case, never mind. Difficult or easy, the Buddha said not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/in-practice-some-come-to-see-easily-some-with-difficulty-but-whatever/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [When sitting in meditation, say, "That's not my business!" with every thought that comes by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/when-sitting-in-meditation-say-that-s-not-my-business-with-every/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [Proper effort is not the effort to make something particular happen. It is the effort to be aware and awake each moment, the effort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/proper-effort-is-not-the-effort-to-make-something-particular-happen/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [Regarding this Dhamma, it is not something that we can simply talk about or take another's word for it. We need to develop meditation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/regarding-this-dhamma-it-is-not-something-that-we-can-simply-talk/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [These days people don't search for the Truth. People study simply in order to find knowledge necessary to make a living, raise families and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/these-days-people-don-t-search-for-the-truth-people-study-simply-in/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [Things are simply the way they are. They don't give us suffering. Like a thorn: Does a sharp thorn give us suffering? No. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/things-are-simply-the-way-they-are-they-don-t-give-us-suffering-like/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) [Explore all 105 Ajahn Chah quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) ## More Attitude quotes > [“WE CAN'T ALWAYS CONTROL OUR CIRCUMSTANCES BUT WE CAN CONTROL OUR ATTITUDE. WE MUST BE MORE CONCERNED WITH WHAT WE DO WITH WHAT HAPPENS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/we-can-t-always-control-our-circumstances-but-we-can-control-our/) [MARVIN J. ASHTON](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [It's not the method, it's the mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gilbert/it-s-not-the-method-it-s-the-mindset/) [Andy Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gilbert/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [Vow to be valiant. Resolve to be radiant. Determine to be dynamic. Strive to be sincere. Aspire to be attuned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/vow-to-be-valiant-resolve-to-be-radiant-determine-to-be-dynamic/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [Don't judge me because I'm stupid. Don't judge me because I'm, mean. Don't judge me because I'm weird. Don't judge me for mistakes. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-harden-me/don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-stupid-don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-mean-don/) Isaiah Harden (Me > [Your feelings (mood) dictate your thought, your thought determines your attitude (reactions) and your attitude describes your lifestyle, so: be careful how you feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheye-hassan/your-feelings-mood-dictate-your-thought-your-thought-determines-your/) Sheye Hassan > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [“Good Seeds! Gratitude is the Greatest Attitude that has no Substitute.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-kelvin-clive/good-seeds-gratitude-is-the-greatest-attitude-that-has-no-substitute/) [Bernard Kelvin Clive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-kelvin-clive/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [One genuine reason to feel jealous of my parents:-) I will never ever have a kid as awesome as their's...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-genuine-reason-to-feel-jealous-of-my-parents-i-will-never-ever/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm optimistic Hong Kong will achieve universal suffrage - no matter the attitude of Beijing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/i-m-optimistic-hong-kong-will-achieve-universal-suffrage-no-matter/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [My attitude it that you don't give in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-taylor/my-attitude-it-that-you-don-t-give-in/) [Phil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-taylor/) > [Transparency pertains to impartial behavior, implies openness, communication, and accountability. Inculcate transparency in attitude and experience a life free of controversy and blame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kr-sinha/transparency-pertains-to-impartial-behavior-implies-openness/) [Dr Anil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kr-sinha/) > [And if the mind thinks with a believing attitude one can do amazing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/and-if-the-mind-thinks-with-a-believing-attitude-one-can-do-amazing/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) [Browse all 9,543 Attitude quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Don't think that only sitting with the eyes closed is practice. If you do think this way, then quickly change your thinking. Steady practice is keeping mindful in every posture, whether sitting, walking, standing or lying down. 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