50 Yoga quotes, mantras, Buddhist, Hindu and Chinese proverbs!
Looking for a yoga quote? Yoga is more than just a physical practice, it is a way of life that aims to balance the body, mind and soul. Quotes, mantras and proverbs are common tools used in yoga to help focus, motivate and connect with a specific intention. In this article, we have gathered 50 Buddhist, Hindu and Chinese quotes, mantras and proverbs to help you deepen your yoga practice and connect with your inner self. Whether you are an experienced yogi or new to the practice, these inspirational quotes will offer insight into the ancient wisdom of these cultures and help you integrate the principles of yoga into your daily life.
13 yoga quotes, their meaning and source:
- “Mental calm is one of the beautiful jewels of yoga.” – B.K.S. Iyengar. This quote highlights the importance of doing yoga to achieve a state of mental calm.
- “Yoga teaches us to heal what needs to be healed and to let go of what cannot be healed.” – Judith Hanson Lasater. This quote highlights the importance of listening to one’s body and not becoming attached to it.
- “Yoga is not a religion. It is a science, a philosophy, and above all a personal experience.” – Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. This quote highlights the fact that yoga is a discipline open to all, regardless of their religion.
- “Yoga is the dance of each cell with the music of each breath creating symphonies of harmony and inner peace.” – Debby Toovey. This quote evokes the idea that doing yoga can harmonize all aspects of our being.
- “Yoga is not a diet, it’s a lifestyle.” – Anna Trökes. This quote speaks to the fact that yoga is not just a physical activity, but also encompasses a healthier lifestyle.
- “Yoga is the union of mind and body; the union of breath and thought.” – Sri T. Krishnamacharya. This quote highlights the importance of breathing in the discipline of yoga.
- “Yoga is the path to harmony between the individual soul and the universal soul.” – B.K.S. Iyengar. This quote highlights the spiritual dimension of yoga.
- “Yoga is the practice of paying attention to every moment of life.” – T.K.V. Desikachar. This quote highlights the importance of mindfulness in daily life.
- “Yoga is the practice of tolerance for self and others.” – Donna Farhi. This quote highlights the importance of empathy and compassion in the discipline of yoga.
- “Yoga is the practice of self-love.” – Rodney Yee. This quote highlights the importance of self-esteem and confidence when doing yoga.
- “Yoga is the practice of patience and perseverance.” – Baron Baptiste.
- “Yoga is the art of knowing yourself.” – Patanjali. This quote comes from the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and highlights the importance of doing yoga to know oneself.
- “Yoga is the science of life.” – Indra Devi. This quote talks about the importance of yoga for a healthier and happier life.
10 mantras, their meaning, their translation :
- “Om” – This mantra represents universal energy. It is used to meditate and connect to the source of all life.
- “Om Namah Shivaya” – This mantra is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. It is used to connect to the divine consciousness and to free oneself from the illusion of the material world. Its translation is “I bow to Shiva”.
- “Gayatri Mantra” – This mantra is one of the most famous in Hinduism. It is dedicated to the Hindu goddess of knowledge and wisdom, Gayatri. It is used for meditation, prayer and contemplation. Its translation is “May the supreme deity illuminate our thoughts”. Sage Vishwamitra.
- “Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu” – This mantra is used for the peace and well-being of all living beings. Its translation is “May all beings in the world be happy and at peace”.
- “Om Shanti Shanti” – This mantra is used for inner peace, social peace and universal peace. Its translation is “Peace, peace, peace”.
- “Om Mani Padme Hum” – This mantra is used in Tibetan Buddhism to connect to compassion and wisdom. Its translation is “The pearl is in the lotus”. Buddha Avalokiteshvara.
- “Om Gam Ganapataye Namaha” – This mantra is dedicated to the Hindu god Ganesha. It is used to remove obstacles in life and to bring good fortune. Its translation is “I bow to Ganesha”.
- “Om Hrim Shrim Klim Maha Lakshmi Namaha” – This mantra is dedicated to the Hindu goddess of wealth and prosperity, Lakshmi. It is used to attract wealth, prosperity and good fortune. Its translation is “I bow to Maha Lakshmi”.
- “Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya” – This mantra is dedicated to the Hindu deity Vasudeva, who is a form of Vishnu. It is used for the purification of the mind and for liberation from the cycle of birth and death. Its translation is “I bow to Vasudeva”.
- “Tayata Om Bekanze Bekanze Maha Bekanze Radza Samudgate Soha” – This mantra is used in Tibetan Buddhism for healing and to overcome obstacles. Its translation is “May beings be free from suffering.
10 Buddhist proverbs and their meaning
- “Happiness does not depend on what you have, but on how you think.” This proverb means that happiness is a matter of state of mind rather than material wealth. It encourages finding inner peace and satisfaction in the simple things of life.
- “If you want to know the past, look at your present, for it is the result of your past; if you want to know the future, look at your present, for it is the cause of your future.” This proverb invites us to be aware of our actions and their consequences, and to take responsibility for our own future.
- “The purpose of meditation is not to become another, but to become more yourself.” This proverb encourages one to practice meditation to connect with one’s true nature and find inner peace.
- “Forgiveness is the highest form of wisdom. It frees the soul from the prison of resentment.” This proverb highlights the importance of forgiving in order to find inner peace and to move forward in life.
- “Patience is the key to success.” This proverb encourages one to be patient and persistent in all situations to achieve one’s goals.
- “True wealth is the wealth of the mind.” This proverb highlights that true wealth is inner and not material.
- “Peace comes from within. Don’t look for it on the outside.” This proverb invites us to find inner peace by connecting to ourselves rather than looking for answers outside.
- “Life is a flower, love is the honey.” This proverb celebrates love and the importance of living a life filled with love and compassion.
- “Don’t regret the past, don’t worry about the future, live in the moment.” This proverb encourages being fully present in the moment rather than worrying about the past or the future.
- “Everything we are is the result of what we have thought.” This proverb highlights the importance of our thoughts and state of mind in creating our life and reality.
10 Hindu proverbs, their meaning and author :
- “True knowledge is knowing that you know nothing.” – Hindu Socrates, also known as Sri Ramana Maharshi. This proverb highlights humility and the importance of recognizing our limitations.
- “True wealth is virtue, not money.” – Chanakya, a Hindu philosopher and economist. This proverb highlights the importance of virtue and morality rather than material wealth.
- “The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” – Lao Tzu, a Chinese philosopher whose teachings have been adopted by many Asian cultures, including the Hindu culture. This proverb highlights the importance of starting something, no matter how difficult it may seem.
- “Life is a dream, make it happen.” – Swami Vivekananda, a Hindu philosopher and spiritual leader. This proverb encourages you to pursue your dreams and live your life to the fullest.
- “Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional.” – Buddha, a Hindu sage whose teachings have had a major influence on Indian culture. This proverb highlights that physical pain is inevitable in life, but mental suffering is optional and depends on our state of mind.
- “The best teacher is one who shows you where to look, but doesn’t tell you what to see.” – Alexandra K. Trenfor, an Indian-American educator. This proverb highlights the importance of guiding others to discovery rather than telling them what to do.
- “Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens.” – Jimi Hendrix, an American musician of Native American descent whose teachings have also had an influence on Hindu culture. This proverb highlights the importance of listening and understanding others.
- “Kindness in word creates trust. Kindness in thought creates depth. Kindness in giving creates love.” – Lao Tzu. This proverb emphasizes the importance of kindness and generosity towards others.
- “True yoga is not about form, but about transformation. Yoga not only changes the way we see things, it also transforms the person who sees.” – B.K.S. Iyengar, a famous Indian yoga teacher. This proverb highlights the importance of doing yoga for personal transformation.
- “The best way to find happiness is to give it to others.” – Paramahansa Yogananda, a Hindu spiritual master. This proverb highlights the importance of generosity and compassion towards others to find inner happiness.
10 Chinese proverbs, their meaning and their author :
- “A journey of a thousand li begins with one step.” – Lao Tzu, an ancient Chinese philosopher. This proverb emphasizes the importance of starting something, no matter how difficult it may seem.
- “If you want to know the past, look at the present which is the cause. If you want to know the future, look at the present which is its effect.” – Confucius, a Chinese philosopher. This proverb highlights the importance of understanding how our current actions affect our future.
- “Kind words may be short and easy to say, but their echo is truly eternal.” – Confucius. This proverb highlights the importance of kindness and empathy towards others.
- “True knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance.” – Confucius. This proverb highlights the importance of recognizing our limitations and continuing to learn.
- “A man who has made a mistake and does not correct it, makes a greater mistake.” – Confucius. This proverb highlights the importance of recognizing and correcting our mistakes to move forward.
- “Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions.” – Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibet. This proverb highlights that happiness can only be found by doing positive things and helping others.
- “Patience is a virtue, but mood swings are not.” – Confucius. This proverb highlights the importance of patience and self-control.
- “Experience is a comb that life gives you when you have gone bald.” – Confucius. This proverb highlights the importance of experience in life and how it helps us grow and learn.
- “If you are nevertheless patient in a moment of anxiety, things will calm down for you.” – Lao Tzu. This proverb highlights the importance of patience and perseverance during difficult times.
- “He who wants to take charge of everything must be prepared to answer for it.” – Lao Tzu. This proverb highlights the importance of personal responsibility and taking charge of our actions and their consequences.
How to tame quotes, mantras and proverbs when doing yoga?
Quotes, mantras and proverbs are often used in the discipline of yoga to help focus, motivate, connect with a specific intention, or simply to inspire personal reflection. Here are some tips for taming these elements in your approach to yoga:
- Choose a quote, mantra or proverb that resonates with you and has personal meaning. You can find inspiration in yoga books, on the internet or by asking your yoga teacher.
- Use it regularly during your yoga sessions. Repeat it several times while focusing on its meaning and how it applies to your life.
- Try to connect with the vibration or energy of the quote, mantra or proverb using your breath and intention. For example, if you are using a mantra for inner peace, take a deep breath in while mentally repeating the mantra, then exhale while visualizing inner peace filling your body.
- Incorporate quotes, mantras or proverbs into your daily life by repeating them regularly throughout the day to remind you of your intention and help you stay focused.
- Feel free to change or adjust the quotes, mantras or proverbs over time as you grow personally.
The yogi man, studying the sutras with an open heart, understood that true knowledge of reality and truth can only be attained through inner silence, understanding the nature of the breath, pursuing the ultimate goal of freedom, and pointing out to each person he meets the joy of living in harmony with reason and nature, just as Nisargadatta had dreamed in his books, looking at each woman with the same kindly gaze.
Learn more about the Yoga Philosopher? Discover our special file on the subject !