Death carries off a man busy picking flowers with an besotted mind, like a great flood does a sleeping village.
Gautama BuddhaRead
All composite things pass away. Strive for your own liberation with diligence.
Interpretation
Everything that is made up of parts will eventually come to an end, so it's important to work diligently towards your own freedom.
This quote by Gautama Buddha emphasizes the impermanence of all things that are composite in nature, highlighting that nothing lasts forever. It encourages individuals to focus on their own personal liberation, advocating for a dedicated and diligent pursuit of spiritual and personal growth amidst the transient nature of existence.
In practice
During a meditation retreat, someone shared this quote to inspire deeper focus on self-liberation.
Death carries off a man busy picking flowers with an besotted mind, like a great flood does a sleeping village.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The tongue like a sharp knife ... Kills without drawing blood.
A man must thank his defects, and stand in some terror of his talents.
Belief is not the beginning of knowledge - it is the end.
Dissonance / (if you are interested) / leads to discovery.
Your joy is your sorrow unmasked. And the same well from which your laughter rises was oftentimes filled with your tears. And how else can it be? The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain. Is not the cup that holds your wine the very cup that was burned in the potter's oven? And is not the lute that soothes your spirit, the very wood that was hollowed with knives?
You can't argue with what is.... Well, you can, but if you do, you suffer.
I enjoy growing older and wiser and learning from my mistakes every single day.
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