Death carries off a man busy picking flowers with an besotted mind, like a great flood does a sleeping village.
Gautama BuddhaRead
The poisonous serpent of afflictions is sleeping in your mind; just as if a black viper were asleep in your room. You must use the hook of precepts to quickly remove it. When the sleeping snake is gone, then you can rest at ease.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote advises that unaddressed mental afflictions can harm us and should be dealt with proactively.
Gautama Buddha's quote highlights the importance of recognizing and addressing the detrimental thoughts and afflictions that can reside within our minds, comparing them to a dangerous, sleeping snake. Just as one would not feel comfortable with a venomous serpent in their space, we cannot find peace with unresolved mental challenges; utilizing the 'hook of precepts' signifies the need for moral guidance and principles to eliminate these harmful thoughts, allowing for clarity and ease of mind.
Themes
MindAfflictionsPreceptsPeaceSerpent
In practice
Example use cases
In a meditation workshop, a facilitator might share this quote to emphasize the importance of confronting inner thoughts.
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.
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
As our knees and hips and eyesight deteriorate, we become more dependable, less impulsive, kinder, and less moody. Psychologists call this the maturity principle. My own life experience fits this principle to a T.
Angela DuckworthRead
Every man must decide for himself whether he shall master his world or be mastered by it.
James Cash PenneyRead
Old people love to give good advice; it compensates them for their inability to set a bad example.
Francois De La RochefoucauldRead
Grace works that way. It's a kind word from a gentle person with an impossible prayer. It's a force sometimes transmitted best hand to hand in a dark place.
Bob GoffRead
We dance round in a ring and suppose, but the secret sits in the middle and knows.
Robert FrostRead
Repentance is a divine gift, and there should be a smile on our faces when we speak of it. It points us to freedom, confidence, and peace. Rather than interrupting the celebration, the gift of repentance is the cause for true celebration.
D. Todd ChristoffersonRead