There are so many schools of meditation, so many gurus or teachers teaching methods, systems and practices. The absurdity going around the world is that you must practise in order to meditate – practise a system, practise a method laid down by a guru or teacher. They promise, if you do these practices, you will reach enlightenment, your life will be radically changed. See how they have put the thing wrongly. A life in which there is no division – the beauty of meditation grows from that like a flower, but they impose on a confused, conflicting, contradictory life, a system of meditation which you hope will bring peace in your life. It is putting the cart before the horse, which is totally absurd.
From a talk in Rome, 29 October 1972