Death carries off a man busy picking flowers with an besotted mind, like a great flood does a sleeping village.
Gautama BuddhaRead
When I was a young man, near the beginning of my life, I looked around with true mindfulness and saw that all things are subject to decay.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects on the transient nature of life and the inevitability of decay.
In this quote, Gautama Buddha emphasizes the importance of mindfulness and awareness in recognizing that everything in life is impermanent and subject to decay. This realization can lead to a deeper understanding of existence and encourage individuals to appreciate the present moment, as well as to cultivate a detachment from material possessions and desires that are ultimately fleeting.
Themes
ImpermanenceMindfulnessDecayLifeAcceptance
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about the importance of living in the moment, this quote can illustrate the concept of mindfulness.
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
Why reasonable people go stark raving mad when anything involving a Negro comes up, is something I don't pretend to understand.
Harper LeeRead
When I talk about democratic socialist, I am talking about Medicare, a single payer health care system for the elderly. And in my view, we should expand that concept to all people. I believe that everybody in this country should be entitled to health care as a right.
Bernie SandersRead
To 'choose' dogma and faith over doubt and experience is to throw out the ripening vintage and to reach greedily for the Kool-Aid.
Christopher HitchensRead
To stand on one leg and prove God's existence is a very different thing from going on one's knees and thanking him.
Soren KierkegaardRead
Therefore it is unnecessary for a prince to have all the good qualities I have enumerated, but it is very necessary to appear to have them. And I shall dare to say this also, that to have them and always to observe them is injurious, and that to appear to have them is useful; to appear merciful, faithful, humane, religious, upright, and to be so, but with a mind so framed that should you require not to be so, you may be able and know how to change to the opposite.
Niccolo MachiavelliRead
When mind controls man, itβs ... Bhoga (bondage). But when man controls mind, itβs...Yoga
Sri Sri Ravi ShankarRead