Death carries off a man busy picking flowers with an besotted mind, like a great flood does a sleeping village.
Gautama BuddhaRead
Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Focus on the present moment rather than being distracted by the past or future.
This quote by Gautama Buddha emphasizes the importance of living in the present. It suggests that dwelling on past experiences or worrying about future events can lead to unnecessary suffering and distraction. Instead, it advocates for mindfulness and concentration on the here and now, which can lead to a more fulfilling and peaceful life.
Themes
PresentMindfulnessLiving In The MomentConcentrationPastFuture
In practice
Example use cases
During a meditation session, one could reflect on Buddha's words to deepen their practice.
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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