--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: During zazen, brain and consciousness…" description: "\"During zazen, brain and consciousness become pure. It's exactly like muddy water left to stand in a glass. Little by little, the sediment sinks to the ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b3/taisen-deshimaru-20366_bottom_during-zazen-brain-and-consciousness-bec_1331717.jpg" --- # During zazen, brain and consciousness become pure. It's… ![“During zazen, brain and consciousness become pure. It's exactly like muddy water left to stand in a glass. Little by little, the sediment sinks to the bottom and the water becomes pure.” quote by Taisen Deshimaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b3/taisen-deshimaru-20366_bottom_during-zazen-brain-and-consciousness-bec_1331717.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b3/taisen-deshimaru-20366_bottom_during-zazen-brain-and-consciousness-bec_1331717.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b3/taisen-deshimaru-20366_bottom_during-zazen-brain-and-consciousness-bec_1331717.jpg) > “During zazen, brain and consciousness become pure. It's exactly like muddy water left to stand in a glass. Little by little, the sediment sinks to the bottom and the water becomes pure.” [Taisen Deshimaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taisen-deshimaru/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Meditation clears mental clutter, allowing consciousness to settle into clarity like water after sediment settles. **In simple terms:** Meditation clears the mind like settling water. Key Takeaway Practice regular meditation to achieve mental clarity. Themes mindfulness clarity spirituality Mood calm contemplative Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - stress reduction - focus improvement - emotional regulation - creative work Key Concepts Zen mental purification consciousness inner peace Questions to Reflect On - How can you notice subtle changes in mental clarity? - What practices support sustained mental purification? A Different Perspective May be difficult for beginners to experience immediate results. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/) [Consciousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consciousness/) [Meditation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meditation/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water/) ## Related quotes > [About the book of Job: If it were today, God might be asking "How does DNA carry traits? How are instincts passed on in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-d-mclaren/about-the-book-of-job-if-it-were-today-god-might-be-asking-how-does/) [Brian D. McLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-d-mclaren/) > [“we can pair the left brain to “consciousness” and the right brain to the “unconscious.” Perhaps our brains reflect the cosmic interplay between day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-seifer/we-can-pair-the-left-brain-to-consciousness-and-the-right-brain-to/) [Marc Seifer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-seifer/) > [The centermost processes of the brain with which consciousness is presumably associated are simply not understood. They are so far beyond our comprehension that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-wolcott-sperry/the-centermost-processes-of-the-brain-with-which-consciousness-is/) [Roger Wolcott Sperry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-wolcott-sperry/) > [“Our consciousness is pure when we are born, but with time it is infected and possessed by societal consciousness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/our-consciousness-is-pure-when-we-are-born-but-with-time-it-is/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [The first spiritual law of success is the Law of Pure Potentiality. This law is based on the fact that we are, in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/the-first-spiritual-law-of-success-is-the-law-of-pure-potentiality/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [“This causation exists as a streamed organization of constantly fluid potential. Anything that can be must first hold the streaming potential to be. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dew-platt/this-causation-exists-as-a-streamed-organization-of-constantly-fluid/) [Dew Platt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dew-platt/) > [God is a wider consciousness than we are, a pure intelligence, spiritual life and actuality. He is neither one nor many, neither man nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-alexander-leighton/god-is-a-wider-consciousness-than-we-are-a-pure-intelligence/) [Joseph Alexander Leighton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-alexander-leighton/) > [There is a God part in you. The consciousness. The pure Self. Learn to listen the voice of that Power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-ray/there-is-a-god-part-in-you-the-consciousness-the-pure-self-learn-to/) [Amit Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-ray/) > [The greatest thing you can do for another being is to provide the unconditional love that comes from making contact with that place in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/the-greatest-thing-you-can-do-for-another-being-is-to-provide-the/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [“Offence is like muddy soil; when trapped underfoot, it resists rapid progress. Don't trap offences under your mind, else you resist change! Jesus said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/offence-is-like-muddy-soil-when-trapped-underfoot-it-resists-rapid/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [My favorite country blues player was Big Bill Broonzy. City blues was Freddie King, but I liked them all - Muddy Waters, John Lee…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-lee/my-favorite-country-blues-player-was-big-bill-broonzy-city-blues-was/) [Alvin Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-lee/) > [Woodstock - I didn't see anybody play, except when I was standing backstage waiting to go on, because it was so muddy. And the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-slick/woodstock-i-didn-t-see-anybody-play-except-when-i-was-standing/) [Grace Slick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-slick/) > [Listen, the story of the United States is this: One kid, without anything, walks out of his house, down the road, with nothing but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-bone-burnett/listen-the-story-of-the-united-states-is-this-one-kid-without/) [T Bone Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-bone-burnett/) > [Plato, the first true pope of philosophy (sorry, Socrates), argued for a World of Forms above the reality-a transcendent plane of perfect essences, pure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-d-wilson/plato-the-first-true-pope-of-philosophy-sorry-socrates-argued-for-a/) [N.D. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-d-wilson/) > [Little Walter and Muddy Waters were incredible. And Bo Diddley was doing some great stuff, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/columbus-short/little-walter-and-muddy-waters-were-incredible-and-bo-diddley-was/) [Columbus Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/columbus-short/) ## More by Taisen Deshimaru > [You must concentrate upon and consecrate yourself wholly to each day, as though a fire were raging in your hair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taisen-deshimaru/you-must-concentrate-upon-and-consecrate-yourself-wholly-to-each-day/) [Taisen Deshimaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taisen-deshimaru/) > [We feel our shell keeps us safe, but it crushes us and others, and keeps out light and sun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taisen-deshimaru/we-feel-our-shell-keeps-us-safe-but-it-crushes-us-and-others-and/) [Taisen Deshimaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taisen-deshimaru/) > [We should learn to think with our fingers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taisen-deshimaru/we-should-learn-to-think-with-our-fingers/) [Taisen Deshimaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taisen-deshimaru/) > [Human beings are afraid of dying. They are always running after something: money, honor, and pleasure. But if you had to die now, what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taisen-deshimaru/human-beings-are-afraid-of-dying-they-are-always-running-after/) [Taisen Deshimaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taisen-deshimaru/) > [Harmonizing opposites by going back to their source is the distinctive quality of the Zen attitude, the Middle Way: embracing contradictions, making a synthesis…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taisen-deshimaru/harmonizing-opposites-by-going-back-to-their-source-is-the/) [Taisen Deshimaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taisen-deshimaru/) > [The body moves naturally, automatically, without any personal intervention or awareness. If we think too much, our actions become slow and hesitant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taisen-deshimaru/the-body-moves-naturally-automatically-without-any-personal/) [Taisen Deshimaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taisen-deshimaru/) > [From your first day at school you are cut off from life to make theories.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taisen-deshimaru/from-your-first-day-at-school-you-are-cut-off-from-life-to-make/) [Taisen Deshimaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taisen-deshimaru/) > [You cannot separate any part from the whole: interdependence rules the cosmic order.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taisen-deshimaru/you-cannot-separate-any-part-from-the-whole-interdependence-rules-the/) [Taisen Deshimaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taisen-deshimaru/) > [Think with your whole body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taisen-deshimaru/think-with-your-whole-body/) [Taisen Deshimaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taisen-deshimaru/) > [Nobody today is normal, everybody is a little bit crazy or unbalanced, people's minds are running all the time. Their perceptions of the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taisen-deshimaru/nobody-today-is-normal-everybody-is-a-little-bit-crazy-or-unbalanced/) [Taisen Deshimaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taisen-deshimaru/) > [If you have a glass full of liquid you can discourse forever on its qualities, discuss whether it is cold, warm, whether it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taisen-deshimaru/if-you-have-a-glass-full-of-liquid-you-can-discourse-forever-on-its/) [Taisen Deshimaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taisen-deshimaru/) > [You have to practice until you die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taisen-deshimaru/you-have-to-practice-until-you-die/) [Taisen Deshimaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taisen-deshimaru/) > [Zen is not a particular state but the normal state: silent, peaceful, unagitated. In Zazen neither intention, analysis, specific effort nor imagination take place.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taisen-deshimaru/zen-is-not-a-particular-state-but-the-normal-state-silent-peaceful/) [Taisen Deshimaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taisen-deshimaru/) > [The silence of the mountain is even more beautiful once the birds are quiet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taisen-deshimaru/the-silence-of-the-mountain-is-even-more-beautiful-once-the-birds-are/) [Taisen Deshimaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taisen-deshimaru/) > [Time is not a line, but a series of now-points.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taisen-deshimaru/time-is-not-a-line-but-a-series-of-now-points/) [Taisen Deshimaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taisen-deshimaru/) [Explore all 28 Taisen Deshimaru quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taisen-deshimaru/) ## More Bottom quotes > [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/) > [Filmmaking, like sex, isn't a polite enterprise. It involves a lot of mess and the bottom line is, if somebody ain't screaming, you're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-woods/filmmaking-like-sex-isn-t-a-polite-enterprise-it-involves-a-lot-of/) [James Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-woods/) > [I was terrible student. I was capable, but I never like being told what to do, so I was always in the bottom class…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lilley/i-was-terrible-student-i-was-capable-but-i-never-like-being-told-what/) [Chris Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lilley/) > [The contempt for law and the contempt for the human consequences of lawbreaking go from the bottom to the top of American society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-contempt-for-law-and-the-contempt-for-the-human-consequences-of/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [I plead with my Moonlight fans to give this show a chance if they let me give it a chance. I can’t do Moonlight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-o-loughlin/i-plead-with-my-moonlight-fans-to-give-this-show-a-chance-if-they-let/) [Alex O'Loughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-o-loughlin/) > [Well, the bottom line is that I'm extremely pleased with 'The Stupids.' I'm pleased that it's coming out, and it should look good. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-landis/well-the-bottom-line-is-that-i-m-extremely-pleased-with-the-stupids-i/) [John Landis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-landis/) > [Search for the seed of good in every adversity. Master that principle and you will own a precious shield that will guard you well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/og-mandino/search-for-the-seed-of-good-in-every-adversity-master-that-principle/) [Og Mandino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/og-mandino/) > [I would have had a clause in my contract; I would've definitely put some fine print in my contract that said, "If the president…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-budden/i-would-have-had-a-clause-in-my-contract-i-would-ve-definitely-put/) [Joe Budden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-budden/) > [Of course the Dharma-body of the Buddha was the hedge at the bottom of the garden. At the same time, and no less obviously,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/of-course-the-dharma-body-of-the-buddha-was-the-hedge-at-the-bottom/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [When I hit bottom, I can attack the problem and get to where I want to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-rodman/when-i-hit-bottom-i-can-attack-the-problem-and-get-to-where-i-want-to/) [Dennis Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-rodman/) > [If I had lost the popular vote but won the electoral college and in my first day as president the intelligence community came to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/if-i-had-lost-the-popular-vote-but-won-the-electoral-college-and-in/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [The bottom line, in the professional level, no matter where you go, there's going to be competition. That's what it is. At the end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-tolzien/the-bottom-line-in-the-professional-level-no-matter-where-you-go/) [Scott Tolzien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-tolzien/) > [Life is a climb and it's a struggle getting to the top but the drop to the bottom can be quick and so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/life-is-a-climb-and-it-s-a-struggle-getting-to-the-top-but-the-drop/) [Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/) > [One thing you learned as a Cubs fan: when you bought you ticket, you could bank on seeing the bottom of the ninth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-garagiola/one-thing-you-learned-as-a-cubs-fan-when-you-bought-you-ticket-you/) [Joe Garagiola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-garagiola/) > [The political satirist usually votes against their own interests, but the bottom line is that it doesn't really matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizz-winstead/the-political-satirist-usually-votes-against-their-own-interests-but/) [Lizz Winstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizz-winstead/) Browse all 2,558 Bottom quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "During zazen, brain and consciousness become pure. It's exactly like muddy water left to stand in a glass. Little by little, the sediment sinks to the bottom and the water becomes pure.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Taisen Deshimaru" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taisen-deshimaru/during-zazen-brain-and-consciousness-become-pure-it-s-exactly-like/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bottom" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taisen-deshimaru/during-zazen-brain-and-consciousness-become-pure-it-s-exactly-like/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b3/taisen-deshimaru-20366_bottom_during-zazen-brain-and-consciousness-bec_1331717.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b3/taisen-deshimaru-20366_bottom_during-zazen-brain-and-consciousness-bec_1331717.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b3/taisen-deshimaru-20366_bottom_during-zazen-brain-and-consciousness-bec_1331717.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“During zazen, brain and consciousness become pure. It's exactly like muddy water left to stand in a glass…” — Taisen Deshimaru", "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": "Taisen Deshimaru", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taisen-deshimaru/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "During zazen, brain and consciousness become...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taisen-deshimaru/during-zazen-brain-and-consciousness-become-pure-it-s-exactly-like/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taisen-deshimaru/during-zazen-brain-and-consciousness-become-pure-it-s-exactly-like/#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 } } ] } ```