Death carries off a man busy picking flowers with an besotted mind, like a great flood does a sleeping village.
Gautama BuddhaRead
The past is already gone, the future is not yet here. There's only one moment for you to live, and that is the present moment
Interpretation
What this quote means
Focus on the present moment rather than dwelling on the past or worrying about the future.
This quote emphasizes the importance of living in the present, suggesting that the past is unchangeable and the future is uncertain. By anchoring ourselves in the present, we can fully experience life and appreciate each moment without being burdened by regret or anxiety.
Themes
PresentMomentLifeBuddhismMindfulness
In practice
Example use cases
In a mindfulness workshop, I shared this quote to emphasize the importance of being present in our daily lives.
More from Gautama Buddha
All quotes βA 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.
Gautama BuddhaRead
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.
Gautama BuddhaRead
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.
Gautama BuddhaRead
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.
Gautama BuddhaRead
The tongue like a sharp knife ... Kills without drawing blood.
Gautama BuddhaRead
Similar quotes
Overly simplistic suggestions that we ban people from entering this country, based on religion, or ban people from an entire region of the world is counterproductive. It will not work. We need to build bridges to communities, to American-Muslim communities right now, to encourage them to help us in our homeland security efforts.
Jeh JohnsonRead
The universe is probably littered with the one-planet graves of cultures which made the sensible economic decision that there's no good reason to go into space-each discovered, studied, and remembered by the ones who made the irrational decision.
Randall MunroeRead
When we get up in the morning, what we put on is very much a reflection of how we see the world and how we want it to see us.
Kenneth ColeRead
Nor shall this peace sleep with her; but as when The bird of wonder dies, the maiden phoenix, Her ashes new-create another heir As great in admiration as herself.
William ShakespeareRead
To wonder about life is not something we learn; it is something we forget.
Jostein GaarderRead
An election is a collective call to wisdom and a collective call to action. It represents a renewal and a recommitment to the goals and hopes of a shared and egalitarian society. It represents the diverse and yet singular urges of the people and the Republic of India. This makes the very act of voting a sacred act.
Ram Nath KovindRead