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. . . the fools of this world prefer to look for sages far…

“. . . the fools of this world prefer to look for sages far away. They don't believe that the wisdom of their own mind is the sage . . . the sutras say, "Mind is the teaching." But people of no understanding don't believe in their own mind or that by understanding this teaching they can become a…” quote by Bodhidharma
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“. . . the fools of this world prefer to look for sages far away. They don't believe that the wisdom of their own mind is the sage . . . the sutras say, "Mind is the teaching." But people of no understanding don't believe in their own mind or that by understanding this teaching they can become a sage. They prefer to look for distant knowledge and long for things in space, buddha-images, light, incense, and colors. They fall prey to falsehood and lose their minds to insanity.”

Bodhidharma

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

People seek external wisdom, ignoring the innate insight of their own mind, leading to confusion and delusion.

In simple terms: Look inside for wisdom instead of searching far.

Key Takeaway

Trust your mind’s teachings.

Themes

self‑reliance inner wisdom spiritual seeking

Mood

contemplative serene

Type

philosophical spiritual

When to use this quote

  • meditation practice
  • personal counseling
  • spiritual study
  • daily reflection

Key Concepts

mindfulness self‑knowledge illusion

Questions to Reflect On

  • What inner truth are you overlooking?
  • How can you cultivate trust in your own mind?
A Different Perspective

External symbols cannot replace inner understanding.

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