Death carries off a man busy picking flowers with an besotted mind, like a great flood does a sleeping village.
Gautama BuddhaRead
Everything is based on mind, is led by mind, is fashioned by mind. If you speak and act with a polluted mind, suffering will follow you, as the wheels of the oxcart follow the footsteps of the ox. Everything is based on mind, is led by mind, is fashioned by mind. If you speak and act with a pure mind, happiness will follow you, as a shadow clings to a form.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Our thoughts shape our actions and consequences; a pure mind leads to happiness, while a polluted mind leads to suffering.
This quote by Gautama Buddha emphasizes the power of the mind in determining the nature of our experiences. It suggests that our thoughts and intentions influence our actions, and consequently, our well-being. When we approach life with a positive and pure mindset, we can attract happiness and joy, just as a shadow follows a person. Conversely, if our mind is filled with negativity or pollution, we will experience suffering, paralleling how an oxcart follows the path of the ox that pulls it. This teaching encourages self-reflection and the cultivation of a positive mindset.
Themes
MindHappinessSufferingThoughtsPurePolluted
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about mental health and positivity.
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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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