from Full Catastrophe Living by Jon Kabat-Zinn:

"When the mind is dominated by dissatisfaction and unawareness, which is much more often than most of us are willing to admit, it is difficult to feel calm or relaxed. Instead, we are likely to feel fragmented and driven."

"Mindfulness is cultivated by assuming the stance of an impartial witness to your own experience. To do this requires that you become aware of the constant stream of judging and reacting to inner and outer experiences that we are all normally caught up in, and learn to step back from it."

Selections from Bill Scheinman:

"If we can re-connect to the awareness that knows these things are arising — but isn’t lost or identified with them — we ensure the ability to snap out of the dull dream of self-identity that enchants us, and align ourselves with the awakened presence of knowing which is our true nature."

"The breath is a vital ally in the practice of mindfulness. Because it is always available, and because its shifting nature reflects our moment to moment state of being, the breath is our portal to understanding, healing and well-being."

"When we hold strong emotions, judgments or mind-states in awareness, we can investigate their nature with a kind attention and see that they do not define us. If we observe them long enough, we’ll also see that they are impermanent."