We are sick with fascination for the useful tools of names and numbers, of symbols, signs, conceptions and ideas. Meditation is therefore the art of suspending verbal and symbolic thinking for a time, somewhat as a courteous audience will stop talking when a concert is about to begin.

Summary

This quote emphasizes our obsession with language, logic, and conceptual thinking, which can often distract us from the present moment. It suggests that meditation is the practice of temporarily setting aside our verbal and symbolic thoughts, similar to how a respectful audience falls silent before a performance. By doing so, we can achieve a state of stillness and mindfulness, free from the constant mental chatter and attachments to ideas and labels.

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