Death carries off a man busy picking flowers with an besotted mind, like a great flood does a sleeping village.
Gautama BuddhaRead
Understand that the body is merely the foam of a wave, the shadow of a shadow.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the transient nature of the physical body compared to deeper existential truths.
In this quote, Gautama Buddha reflects on the impermanence and illusion of physical existence. He compares the body to foam on a wave and a shadow, suggesting that what we perceive as solid and real is, in fact, fleeting and insubstantial. This perspective encourages individuals to look beyond the surface of life to grasp the deeper spiritual truths that underlie our existence.
Themes
ImpermanenceIllusionBodySpiritualityExistence
In practice
Example use cases
In a philosophy class discussing the nature of reality and existence.
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
The promise given was a necessity of the past: the word broken is a necessity of the present.
Niccolo MachiavelliRead
It is only with the heart that one can see rightly.
Antoine De Saint-ExuperyRead
I found I could extinguish all human hope from my soul.
Arthur RimbaudRead
The field of vision is comparable, for me, to the terrain of an archaeological dig. To see is to be on guard, to wait for what emerges from the background, without any name, without any particular interest: what was silent will speak, what is closed will open and will take on a voice.
Paul VirilioRead
Sometimes we find ourselves walking through life blindfolded, and we try to deny that we're the ones who securely tied the knot.
Jodi PicoultRead
Kindness is not an illusion and violence is not a rule. The true resting state of human affairs is not represented by a man hacking his neighbor into pieces with a machete. That is a sick aberration. No, the true state of human affairs is life as it ought to be lived.
Paul RusesabaginaRead