So as long as you have not attained to desirelessness, as…
““So as long as you have not attained to desirelessness, as long as you have not renounced desires completely, you will go on taking births and wandering in different bodies. And howsoever different the forms of the body may be, their basic condition is always the same. The ills of the body are the same, regardless whether it’s a bird’s body or man’s. There is no difference in their miseries, because the fundamental misery is only one: the soul becoming confined in the body, the entering of the soul into the prison of body. A prison after all is a prison; it makes no difference whether its walls are circular or angular no matter what you think.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Desire binds the soul to endless rebirths; only by relinquishing all cravings can one escape the bodily prison of suffering.
In simple terms: Desires trap us in cycles of rebirth; letting go frees the soul.
Key Takeaway
Release all desires to break the cycle.
Themes
spirituality
rebirth
detachment
suffering
freedom
Mood
contemplative
serene
reflective
Type
philosophical
spiritual
inspirational
When to use this quote
- meditation practice
- end‑of‑life reflection
- ethical decision making
- stress reduction
Key Concepts
non‑attachment
samsara
self‑realization
Questions to Reflect On
- What desires still dominate your life?
- How can you practice non‑attachment daily?
A Different Perspective
Even without desires, attachment to outcomes can still bind the soul.