Death carries off a man busy picking flowers with an besotted mind, like a great flood does a sleeping village.
Gautama BuddhaRead
Be the witness of your thoughts.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Observing your own thoughts can provide insight and clarity.
The quote encourages individuals to become mindful witnesses of their thoughts, rather than being consumed by them. By adopting this observational stance, one can better understand their thought patterns, leading to greater self-awareness and emotional regulation.
Themes
MindfulnessSelf-AwarenessThoughtsObservationBuddha
In practice
Example use cases
During a meditation workshop, this quote can be shared to encourage participants to notice their thoughts without judgment.
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.
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.
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The tongue like a sharp knife ... Kills without drawing blood.
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