In Buddhist thought, enlightenment is understood not as…
““In Buddhist thought, enlightenment is understood not as the presence of something but as the absence of something: the permanent extinction in our lives of greed, hatred and delusion. Enlightenment is not the acquisition of new ideas but the patient removal of old ways of being our selves.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Enlightenment is achieved by eliminating greed, hatred, and delusion, not by gaining new ideas.
In simple terms: Freedom from negative mental states brings true insight.
Remove harmful habits to find peace.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- personal meditation
- therapy
- conflict resolution
- habit change
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What negative patterns are you ready to let go?
- How does letting go differ from acquiring?
The process can be slow and may encounter deep‑seated resistance.