--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A person who undertakes the study of Zen…" description: "\"A person who undertakes the study of Zen and learns concentration and meditation is like a gymnast. You become a gymnast of the mind.\" — Frederick Lenz" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33d/frederick-lenz-8_concentration_a-person-who-undertakes-the-study-of-zen_2919043.jpg" --- # A person who undertakes the study of Zen and learns… ![“A person who undertakes the study of Zen and learns concentration and meditation is like a gymnast. You become a gymnast of the mind.” quote by Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33d/frederick-lenz-8_concentration_a-person-who-undertakes-the-study-of-zen_2919043.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33d/frederick-lenz-8_concentration_a-person-who-undertakes-the-study-of-zen_2919043.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/33d/frederick-lenz-8_concentration_a-person-who-undertakes-the-study-of-zen_2919043.jpg) > “A person who undertakes the study of Zen and learns concentration and meditation is like a gymnast. You become a gymnast of the mind.” [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Zen practice trains the mind like a gymnast, building concentration and flexibility. **In simple terms:** Zen trains the mind like a gymnast. Key Takeaway Practice mental discipline. Themes zen mindfulness concentration flexibility Mood calm focused Type spiritual practical When to use this quote - meditation - sports training - stress management Key Concepts spirituality psychology Questions to Reflect On - How can you train mental flexibility? - What mental muscles need work? A Different Perspective Mind‑gymnastics require consistency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Concentration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concentration/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Introduction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/introduction/) [Meditation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meditation/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) ## Related quotes > [I'd really like to be a gymnast and be super flexible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rochelle-humes/i-d-really-like-to-be-a-gymnast-and-be-super-flexible/) [Rochelle Humes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rochelle-humes/) > [I'm going to become like a gymnast. I watch online, on Instagram, these gymnast influencers, and that's where I want to get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryson-dechambeau/i-m-going-to-become-like-a-gymnast-i-watch-online-on-instagram-these/) [Bryson DeChambeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryson-dechambeau/) > [If you were just you, you would be happy. But of course, you don't know who or what you are. So how can you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-were-just-you-you-would-be-happy-but-of-course-you-don-t-know/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Through the study of Zen you can learn to move from lower to higher states of mind at will. Higher states of mind offer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/through-the-study-of-zen-you-can-learn-to-move-from-lower-to-higher/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Just like there are different roads that lead to different places, so there are different levels of awareness that lead to different places and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/just-like-there-are-different-roads-that-lead-to-different-places-so/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [The study of Zen is the study of energy, power, knowledge and balance. It is the science of energy conservation and control. We use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-study-of-zen-is-the-study-of-energy-power-knowledge-and-balance/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [There is a beautiful flow to the study of Zen. If it is not making you happier, then you are not practicing correctly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/there-is-a-beautiful-flow-to-the-study-of-zen-if-it-is-not-making-you/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [In the study of Zen you can learn how to strengthen and clarify your finite mind. Your finite mind is like a muscle; when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/in-the-study-of-zen-you-can-learn-how-to-strengthen-and-clarify-your/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [The study of Zen is a retraining. It is a series of new ways, not just one way, to learn to use your mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-study-of-zen-is-a-retraining-it-is-a-series-of-new-ways-not-just/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [There are two primary ways of studying Zen. Either an individual will enter into a Zen monastery and study with a Zen master there,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/there-are-two-primary-ways-of-studying-zen-either-an-individual-will/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Those who are already adept at some disciplines of the body will find that the study of Zen and meditation will give you much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/those-who-are-already-adept-at-some-disciplines-of-the-body-will-find/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [To concentrate is not to meditate, even though that is what most of you do, calling it meditation. And if concentration is not meditation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/to-concentrate-is-not-to-meditate-even-though-that-is-what-most-of/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [“passing current that does not affect you.  When a thought arises, a careful approach would be to simply “watch” the thought without judging it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonali-perera/passing-current-that-does-not-affect-you-when-a-thought-arises-a/) Sonali Perera > [Real meditation is not about mastering a technique; it’s about letting go of control. This is meditation. Anything else is actually a form of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adyashanti/real-meditation-is-not-about-mastering-a-technique-it-s-about-letting-2/) [Adyashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adyashanti/) > [“Types of Meditation   While there are myriad of meditation techniques out there, there are two basic types of meditation that we are most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonali-perera/types-of-meditation-while-there-are-myriad-of-meditation-techniques/) Sonali Perera ## More by Frederick Lenz > [There are places that are very draining. There are places where there is another dimensional crossover but to a dimension that is not powerful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/there-are-places-that-are-very-draining-there-are-places-where-there/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [You can draw power from everything in your life. In order to do that, everything has to be set up in a proper way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/you-can-draw-power-from-everything-in-your-life-in-order-to-do-that/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Everyone will admire you when you do well. What a horrible thing to do to someone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/everyone-will-admire-you-when-you-do-well-what-a-horrible-thing-to-do/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Nirvana is a word that means enlightenment, being beyond the illusion of birth and death, the illusion of pain, the illusion of love, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/nirvana-is-a-word-that-means-enlightenment-being-beyond-the-illusion/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I think the most miraculous thing is learning. I get out of the way and let the students learn. Then you get to watch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/i-think-the-most-miraculous-thing-is-learning-i-get-out-of-the-way/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [If you choose to draw from the inner well of free will, then you can make choices that are outside your current karmic patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-choose-to-draw-from-the-inner-well-of-free-will-then-you-can/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [A human being can only absorb a small amount of the mystical kundalini, you can be exposed again and again to it, but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/a-human-being-can-only-absorb-a-small-amount-of-the-mystical/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [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/) > [Only alone can you go into eternity. Only alone can you feel the transcendental light. It is not a shared experience because if it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/only-alone-can-you-go-into-eternity-only-alone-can-you-feel-the/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [The sound man, immune as to a sacrifice of straw dogs, faces the passing human generations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-sound-man-immune-as-to-a-sacrifice-of-straw-dogs-faces-the/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Karma means changing planes of reality or changing fields of attention. There will be perhaps a resulting physical action stemming from the change of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/karma-means-changing-planes-of-reality-or-changing-fields-of/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [You and I are both life. There's just the experience of every moment. We like to call them moments. There isn't really such a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/you-and-i-are-both-life-there-s-just-the-experience-of-every-moment/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Why waste your time being around people who drag you down? You don't live forever, at least in this life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/why-waste-your-time-being-around-people-who-drag-you-down-you-don-t/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Everybody here is so caught up in the game of life they don't see death. They don't see beyond their deaths. They are on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/everybody-here-is-so-caught-up-in-the-game-of-life-they-don-t-see/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) [Explore all 4,399 Frederick Lenz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) ## More Concentration quotes > [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [We must remember that intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character--that is the goal of true education. The complete education gives one not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/we-must-remember-that-intelligence-is-not-enough-intelligence-plus/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [It is a good practice to write at least on page of mantra daily. Many people get better concentration by writing than by chanting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/it-is-a-good-practice-to-write-at-least-on-page-of-mantra-daily-many/) [Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/) > [“Exceptional work is always associated with periods of deep concentration. Nothing excellent ever comes from a scattered effort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-horsley/exceptional-work-is-always-associated-with-periods-of-deep/) [Kevin Horsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-horsley/) > [Mental attitude and concentration are the keys to pitching.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferguson-jenkins/mental-attitude-and-concentration-are-the-keys-to-pitching/) Ferguson Jenkins > [The essence of the stage is concentration and penetration. Of the screen action, movement, sweep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/the-essence-of-the-stage-is-concentration-and-penetration-of-the/) [Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/) > [I can let go of a lot of stuff, but I focus on things I think I should, like dancing, because it takes 100…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuan-yuan-tan/i-can-let-go-of-a-lot-of-stuff-but-i-focus-on-things-i-think-i-should/) [Yuan Yuan Tan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuan-yuan-tan/) > [“Apply the blacksmith's homely principle when you are speaking. If you feel deeply about your subject you will be able to think of little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/apply-the-blacksmith-s-homely-principle-when-you-are-speaking-if-you/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [Mindfulness develops attention, concentration and the ability to simply be present with little or no future orientation, past orientation or goal orientation—choosing to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-gawler/mindfulness-develops-attention-concentration-and-the-ability-to/) Ian Gawler > [So too, monks, I saw the ancient path, the ancient road traveled by the Perfectly Enlightened Ones of the past. And what is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/so-too-monks-i-saw-the-ancient-path-the-ancient-road-traveled-by-the/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Recently a study proved that working from a larger, less cluttered computer screen increases concentration. I could have told them that. And yes, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-schiff/recently-a-study-proved-that-working-from-a-larger-less-cluttered/) [Stacy Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-schiff/) > [If writing with a goal - whether it be evangelistic, apologetic, or didactic - implies propaganda, then all recorded history is propaganda. . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-copan/if-writing-with-a-goal-whether-it-be-evangelistic-apologetic-or/) [Paul Copan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-copan/) > [... programming requires more concentration than other activities. It's the reason programmers get upset about 'quick interruptions' - such interruptions are tantamount to asking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-mcconnell/programming-requires-more-concentration-than-other-activities-it-s/) [Steve McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-mcconnell/) > [Any piece of knowledge which the pupil has himself acquired- any problem which he has himself solved, becomes, by virtue of the conquest, much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/any-piece-of-knowledge-which-the-pupil-has-himself-acquired-any/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [Our mind is a flowing something. It oscillates. Concentration is merely the continuous return to the same problem from a million angles… So my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-laubach/our-mind-is-a-flowing-something-it-oscillates-concentration-is-merely/) [Frank Laubach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-laubach/) [Browse all 1,154 Concentration quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/concentration/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A person who undertakes the study of Zen and learns concentration and meditation is like a gymnast. 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