Death carries off a man busy picking flowers with an besotted mind, like a great flood does a sleeping village.
Gautama BuddhaRead
Rid of craving and without clinging, an expert in the study of texts, and understanding the right sequence of the words, he may indeed be called "In his last body", "Great in wisdom" and a "Great man."
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the importance of letting go of desires and attachments to achieve true understanding and wisdom.
In this quote, Gautama Buddha teaches that by freeing oneself from cravings and attachments, and by gaining a deep understanding of knowledge and the correct order of thoughts, one can attain a higher state of being. This state is characterized by wisdom and greatness, indicating that true enlightenment comes from within rather than from external pursuits or material possessions.
Themes
WisdomCravingAttachmentUnderstandingEnlightenment
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a meditation workshop to highlight the importance of mindfulness.
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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