You know, that idea that “In meditation, what we practice is what we become” is so much more than a nice saying. It’s the absolute core of how transformation actually works. It’s about the direct, tangible sculpting of your own mind through consistent, deliberate focus.
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Meaning
Your repeated mental actions, your focus during meditation, literally shape your brain and your default state of being. You are, quite literally, practicing a new way of existing.
Explanation
Look, it’s like this. If you spend your 20 minutes on the cushion constantly bringing your focus back to the breath, what you’re *really* practicing isn’t just breathing. You’re practicing the *skill of noticing distraction and gently returning*. And that skill, over time, becomes who you are off the cushion. You become less reactive, more centered. Conversely, if you practice cultivating a feeling of loving-kindness, you are strengthening those neural pathways. You are, through repetition, becoming a more compassionate person. The practice *is* the becoming. It’s not a metaphor; it’s a neurological reality.
Quote Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Original Language | English (3668) |
| Category | Personal Development (697) |
| Topics | habits (85), practice (38) |
| Literary Style | minimalist (442) |
| Emotion / Mood | focused (87), inspiring (392) |
| Overall Quote Score | 85 (305) |
Origin & Factcheck
This comes straight from Daniel Goleman’s 1988 book, “The Meditative Mind,” where he was synthesizing his research and experiences with different meditation traditions. It’s often misattributed to Buddha or other ancient sources, but it’s a modern, psychological framing of a very ancient principle.
Attribution Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Author | Daniel Goleman (125) |
| Source Type | Book (4032) |
| Source/Book Name | The Meditative Mind: The Varieties of Meditative Experience (60) |
| Origin Timeperiod | Modern (530) |
| Original Language | English (3668) |
| Authenticity | Verified (4032) |
Author Bio
Daniel Goleman is a psychologist and bestselling author whose journalism at The New York Times brought brain and behavior science to a wide audience. He earned a BA from Amherst and a PhD in psychology from Harvard, and studied in India on a Harvard fellowship. Goleman’s research and writing helped mainstream emotional intelligence, leadership competencies, attention, and contemplative science. He co-founded CASEL and a leading research consortium on EI at work. The Daniel Goleman book list includes Emotional Intelligence, Working with Emotional Intelligence, Primal Leadership, Social Intelligence, Focus, and Altered Traits.
| Official Website
Where is this quotation located?
| Quotation | In meditation, what we practice is what we become |
| Book Details | Publication Year/Date: 1977 (originally as The Varieties of Meditative Experience, revised 1988 as The Meditative Mind); ISBN: 9780874778335; Last Edition: Tarcher/Putnam 1988; Number of pages: 320. |
| Where is it? | Approximate page from 1988 edition, Chapter 3: Concentrative Meditation |