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Attachment is the source of all suffering.
Gautama Buddha
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Attachment leads to suffering because it creates dependence on temporary things.

This quote by Gautama Buddha emphasizes the idea that our attachments to people, objects, and outcomes can lead to pain and suffering. By becoming overly attached, we set ourselves up for disappointment and distress when those attachments change or are lost, suggesting that finding peace requires letting go of such dependencies.

Themes

AttachmentSufferingPeaceBuddhismLetting Go

In practice

Example use cases

In a meditation class discussing the nature of suffering.

More from Gautama Buddha

Death carries off a man busy picking flowers with an besotted mind, like a great flood does a sleeping village.
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A kind man who makes good use of wealth is rightly said to possess a great treasure; but the miser who hoards up his riches will have no profit.
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There are having flowers in Spring, breezes in Summer, moon in Autumn, snows in Winter. If there is nothing worrying over you, it will be the best seasons at all times.
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Make an island of yourself, make yourself your refuge; there is no other refuge. Make truth your island, make truth your refuge; there is no other refuge.
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When a wise man is advised of his errors, he will reflect on and improve his conduct. When his misconduct is pointed out, a foolish man will not only disregard the advice but rather repeat the same error.
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The tongue like a sharp knife ... Kills without drawing blood.
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