Imagine holding on to a hot burning coal. You would not fear letting go of it. In fact, once you noticed that you were holding on, you would probably drop it quickly. But we often do not recognize how we hold on to suffering. It seems to hold on to us. This is our practice: becoming aware of how suffering arises in our mind and of how we become identified with it, and learning to let it go. We learn through simple and direct observation, seeing the process over and over again until we understand.

Joseph Goldstein

from the book Insight Meditation: The Practice of Freedom

Read a random quote or see all quotes by Joseph Goldstein.

Further quotes from the book Insight Meditation:

• Like a cloud passing through the sky
• The foundation of goodwill
• The wonderful paradox about the truth of suffering
• Just sitting and watching
• Seeing impermanence deeply
• Awareness of thoughts
• The meditative journey
• Freedom Lies in the Wisdom to Choose
• Undistracted awareness
• Being with it fully
• Purpose of practice