Death carries off a man busy picking flowers with an besotted mind, like a great flood does a sleeping village.
Gautama BuddhaRead
All descriptions of reality are temporary hypotheses.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes that our understanding of reality is not absolute but rather provisional and subject to change.
Gautama Buddha's quote suggests that our perceptions and interpretations of reality are not fixed truths but rather temporary theories or hypotheses that can evolve over time. This perspective encourages openness to new ideas and experiences, reminding us that what we consider to be true may change as we gain more knowledge and insight.
Themes
RealityHypothesesPerceptionTruthChange
In practice
Example use cases
In a philosophy class discussing the nature of reality.
More from Gautama Buddha
All quotes →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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