--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Through meditation and by giving full…" description: "\"Through meditation and by giving full attention to one thing at a time, we can learn to direct attention where we choose.\" — Eknath Easwaran" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec3/eknath-easwaran-7274_attention_through-meditation-and-by-giving-full-at_676062.jpg" --- # Through meditation and by giving full attention to one… ![“Through meditation and by giving full attention to one thing at a time, we can learn to direct attention where we choose.” quote by Eknath Easwaran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec3/eknath-easwaran-7274_attention_through-meditation-and-by-giving-full-at_676062.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec3/eknath-easwaran-7274_attention_through-meditation-and-by-giving-full-at_676062.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec3/eknath-easwaran-7274_attention_through-meditation-and-by-giving-full-at_676062.jpg) > “Through meditation and by giving full attention to one thing at a time, we can learn to direct attention where we choose.” [Eknath Easwaran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eknath-easwaran/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Focused meditation trains the mind to choose where attention goes, enhancing control over mental focus. **In simple terms:** Meditation helps you control attention. Key Takeaway Practice single‑point focus daily. Themes mindfulness attention self‑discipline Mood calm focused Type instructional inspirational When to use this quote - studying - working - stress management - creative tasks Key Concepts Meditation cognitive control Questions to Reflect On - How does your environment affect your focus? - What single task can you practice today? A Different Perspective Distractions can still dominate without consistent practice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Meditation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meditation/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Yoga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yoga/) ## Related quotes > [Exercise is like meditation for me, and I'm giving myself that time... I can't live without it now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minka-kelly/exercise-is-like-meditation-for-me-and-i-m-giving-myself-that-time-i/) [Minka Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minka-kelly/) > [Every day work on your humility through your meditation, giving more of yourself, giving those things you don't want to give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/every-day-work-on-your-humility-through-your-meditation-giving-more/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“So, let us not be blind to our differences- but let us also direct our attention to our common interests and to the means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/so-let-us-not-be-blind-to-our-differences-but-let-us-also-direct-our/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [“We’re provided opportunities through our experiences. What we choose to pay attention to and what we choose to dismiss determine how our lives unfold.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-hildreth/we-re-provided-opportunities-through-our-experiences-what-we-choose/) [Scott Hildreth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-hildreth/) > [“It's easy to waste too many words—and too much energy—on nonsense we don't even care about. 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Have a look inside yourself. What kind of thoughts is your mind producing? What do you feel? Direct your attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/direct-your-attention-inward-have-a-look-inside-yourself-what-kind-of/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) ## More by Eknath Easwaran > [When we truly are putting others first, we cannot but feel at peace with ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eknath-easwaran/when-we-truly-are-putting-others-first-we-cannot-but-feel-at-peace/) [Eknath Easwaran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eknath-easwaran/) > [The real essentials of life - compassion, kindness, good will, forgiveness - are what is fundamental to living as a true human being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eknath-easwaran/the-real-essentials-of-life-compassion-kindness-good-will-forgiveness/) [Eknath Easwaran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eknath-easwaran/) > [At the beginning of every winter people are careful to install storm windows. These extra panes of glass protect their houses against the bitter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eknath-easwaran/at-the-beginning-of-every-winter-people-are-careful-to-install-storm/) [Eknath Easwaran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eknath-easwaran/) > [A calm mind releases the most precious capacity a human being can have: the capacity to turn anger into compassion, fear into fearlessness, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eknath-easwaran/a-calm-mind-releases-the-most-precious-capacity-a-human-being-can/) [Eknath Easwaran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eknath-easwaran/) > [Don't think the purpose of meditation is to go deep into consciousness, wrap a blanket around yourself, and say, 'How cozy! I'm going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eknath-easwaran/don-t-think-the-purpose-of-meditation-is-to-go-deep-into/) [Eknath Easwaran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eknath-easwaran/) > [Meditation may require a lifetime to master, but it will have been a lifetime well spent. ... If you want to judge your progress,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eknath-easwaran/meditation-may-require-a-lifetime-to-master-but-it-will-have-been-a/) [Eknath Easwaran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eknath-easwaran/) > [“Meditation is the basis of a life of splendid health, untiring energy, unfailing love, and abiding wisdom. It is the very foundation of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eknath-easwaran/meditation-is-the-basis-of-a-life-of-splendid-health-untiring-energy/) [Eknath Easwaran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eknath-easwaran/) > [Love is so exquisitely elusive. It cannot be bought, cannot be badgered, cannot be hijacked. It is available only in one rare form: as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eknath-easwaran/love-is-so-exquisitely-elusive-it-cannot-be-bought-cannot-be-badgered/) [Eknath Easwaran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eknath-easwaran/) > [Meditation is warm-up exercise for the mind, so that you can jog through the rest of the day without getting agitated or spraining your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eknath-easwaran/meditation-is-warm-up-exercise-for-the-mind-so-that-you-can-jog/) [Eknath Easwaran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eknath-easwaran/) > [By removing that which is petty and self-seeking, we bring forth all that is glorious and mindful of the whole.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eknath-easwaran/by-removing-that-which-is-petty-and-self-seeking-we-bring-forth-all/) [Eknath Easwaran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eknath-easwaran/) > [As we get deeper, we move closer and closer to other people; we feel closer to life as a whole.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eknath-easwaran/as-we-get-deeper-we-move-closer-and-closer-to-other-people-we-feel/) [Eknath Easwaran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eknath-easwaran/) > [To be secure everywhere is the mark of sophistication, to be unshakable is the mark of courage, to be permanently in love with every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eknath-easwaran/to-be-secure-everywhere-is-the-mark-of-sophistication-to-be/) [Eknath Easwaran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eknath-easwaran/) > [When the mind is still, we can become an instrument of peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eknath-easwaran/when-the-mind-is-still-we-can-become-an-instrument-of-peace/) [Eknath Easwaran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eknath-easwaran/) > [It is not action or effort that we must surrender; it is self-will, and this is terribly difficult. You must do your best constantly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eknath-easwaran/it-is-not-action-or-effort-that-we-must-surrender-it-is-self-will-and/) [Eknath Easwaran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eknath-easwaran/) > [“We expect professional and financial success to require time and effort. Why do we take success in our relationships for granted? Why should we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eknath-easwaran/we-expect-professional-and-financial-success-to-require-time-and/) [eknath easwaran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eknath-easwaran/) [Explore all 93 Eknath Easwaran quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eknath-easwaran/) ## More Attention quotes > [It appears to me that one great cause of our difference in opinion on subjects which we often discuss is that you have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/it-appears-to-me-that-one-great-cause-of-our-difference-in-opinion-on/) [David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/) > [People pay far too much attention to the television and they're quite literal in some ways. At the beginning, when I was playing very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ardal-o-hanlon/people-pay-far-too-much-attention-to-the-television-and-they-re-quite/) [Ardal O'Hanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ardal-o-hanlon/) > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/our-inventions-are-wont-to-be-pretty-toys-which-distract-our/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [What people don't normally know about us is the hustle is very real, and it's sorely driven a lot by how we consider ourselves.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lzzy-hale/what-people-don-t-normally-know-about-us-is-the-hustle-is-very-real/) [Lzzy Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lzzy-hale/) > [For me, the term "psychotherapy" is limiting. It implies that we work with mind and emotions, but excludes the body and pays scant attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-diamond/for-me-the-term-psychotherapy-is-limiting-it-implies-that-we-work/) [Jed Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-diamond/) > [When you approach something to photograph it, first be still with yourself until the object of your attention affirms your presence. Then don't leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minor-white/when-you-approach-something-to-photograph-it-first-be-still-with/) [Minor White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minor-white/) > [I'm writing about real things. Real people. Real characters. You have to believe what I write about is true or you wouldn't pay any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lou-reed/i-m-writing-about-real-things-real-people-real-characters-you-have-to/) [Lou Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lou-reed/) > [ I went to a mosque in Philadelphia with \[my wife\] in December 24, 1999. And we we went to this mosque in Philly, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/i-went-to-a-mosque-in-philadelphia-with-my-wife-in-december-24-1999/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [The Harvard Business Review recently had an article called 'The Human Moment,' about how to make real contact with a person at work: ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-goleman/the-harvard-business-review-recently-had-an-article-called-the-human/) [Daniel Goleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-goleman/) > [Let us thank God heartily as often as we pray that we have His Spirit in us to teach us to pray. Thanksgiving will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-murray/let-us-thank-god-heartily-as-often-as-we-pray-that-we-have-his-spirit/) [Andy Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-murray/) > [Enlightened people live in very charged states of attention, with a tremendous power circuiting through them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/enlightened-people-live-in-very-charged-states-of-attention-with-a/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [We must have a welfare system that we can afford, which will mean giving greater attention to directing the welfare program toward its primary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-portillo/we-must-have-a-welfare-system-that-we-can-afford-which-will-mean/) [Michael Portillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-portillo/) > [The director's job should give you a sense of music without drawing attention to itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hackford/the-director-s-job-should-give-you-a-sense-of-music-without-drawing/) [Taylor Hackford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hackford/) [Browse all 10,153 Attention quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Through meditation and by giving full attention to one thing at a time, we can learn to direct attention where we choose.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Eknath Easwaran" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eknath-easwaran/through-meditation-and-by-giving-full-attention-to-one-thing-at-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Attention" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eknath-easwaran/through-meditation-and-by-giving-full-attention-to-one-thing-at-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec3/eknath-easwaran-7274_attention_through-meditation-and-by-giving-full-at_676062.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec3/eknath-easwaran-7274_attention_through-meditation-and-by-giving-full-at_676062.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec3/eknath-easwaran-7274_attention_through-meditation-and-by-giving-full-at_676062.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Through meditation and by giving full attention to one thing at a time, we can learn to direct attention…” — Eknath Easwaran", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Eknath Easwaran", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eknath-easwaran/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Through meditation and by giving full...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eknath-easwaran/through-meditation-and-by-giving-full-attention-to-one-thing-at-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eknath-easwaran/through-meditation-and-by-giving-full-attention-to-one-thing-at-a/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```