Death carries off a man busy picking flowers with an besotted mind, like a great flood does a sleeping village.
Gautama BuddhaRead
An unreflective mind is a poor roof. Passion, like the rain, floods the house. But if the roof is strong, there is shelter. Whoever follows impure thoughts Suffers in this world and the next. In both worlds he suffers And how greatly.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Awareness and clarity of thought provide protection from suffering caused by negative thoughts.
This quote by Gautama Buddha emphasizes the importance of a reflective and aware mind in safeguarding oneself from the consequences of negative or impure thoughts. A strong mental framework, akin to a strong roof, can protect an individual from the emotional and spiritual suffering associated with unwholesome ideas, leading to peace both in this life and in the afterlife.
Themes
MindThoughtSufferingReflectionPassionShelter
In practice
Example use cases
During a meditation retreat, this quote can inspire participants to focus on cultivating a strong and reflective mind.
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
All living beings have experience of pleasure and pain, and we are among them. What makes human beings different is that we have a powerful intelligence and a much greater ability to achieve happiness and avoid suffering. Real happiness and friendship come not from money or even knowledge, but from warm-heartednes s. Once we recognize this we will be more inclined to cultivate it.
Dalai LamaRead
I am a true laborer: I earn that I eat, get that I wear, owe no man hate, envy no man's happiness, glad of other men's good, content with my harm.
William ShakespeareRead
Your Remedy is within you, but you do not sense it._x000D_ _x000D_ Your Sickness is from you, but you do not perceive it._x000D_ _x000D_ You Presume you are a small entity,_x000D_ _x000D_ But within you is enfolded the entire universe._x000D_ _x000D_ You are indeed the evident book,_x000D_ _x000D_ By whose alphabet the hidden becomes the manifest._x000D_ _x000D_ Therefore, you have no need to look beyond yourself,_x000D_ _x000D_ What you seek is within you, if only you reflect.
Ali Ibn Abi TalibRead
I'll tell you what: I believe mysticism is a very serious endeavor. One must be equipped for it.
Elie WieselRead
It is poor rule that won't work more ways than one.
Susan B. AnthonyRead
Our souls are not hungry for fame, comfort, wealth, or power. Those rewards create almost as many problems as they solve. Our souls are hungry for meaning, for the sense that we have figured out how to live so that our lives matter, so that the world will be at least a little bit different for our having passed through it.
Harold S. KushnerRead