--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can't look at what's looking. You…" description: "\"You can't look at what's looking. You can't think about that which is prior to thought.\" — Adyashanti" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7d/adyashanti-1169_looks_you-can-t-look-at-what-s-looking-you-can_3157971.png" --- # You can't look at what's looking. You can't think about… ![“You can't look at what's looking. You can't think about that which is prior to thought.” quote by Adyashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7d/adyashanti-1169_looks_you-can-t-look-at-what-s-looking-you-can_3157971.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7d/adyashanti-1169_looks_you-can-t-look-at-what-s-looking-you-can_3157971.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7d/adyashanti-1169_looks_you-can-t-look-at-what-s-looking-you-can_3157971.png) > “You can't look at what's looking. You can't think about that which is prior to thought.” [Adyashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adyashanti/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. One cannot perceive or think about that which lies beyond the scope of perception and thought; true awareness transcends conceptual limits. **In simple terms:** Awareness goes beyond what the mind can grasp. Key Takeaway Practice mindfulness to experience beyond thought. Themes mindfulness philosophy spirituality Mood peaceful curious Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - meditation - quiet reflection - creative problem solving - psychological research Key Concepts nondualism consciousness cognitive limits Questions to Reflect On - Can you experience something without naming it? - How does language shape what you can think? A Different Perspective Some argue that language is needed to articulate insight. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/) ## Related quotes > [“Thought about the world is prior to thought about how to change the world. Accordingly, knowing-that is prior to knowing-how. Descartes was right and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-fodor/thought-about-the-world-is-prior-to-thought-about-how-to-change-the/) [Jerry Fodor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-fodor/) > [When you're good-looking, I think you usually don't have to work as hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/butch-trucks/when-you-re-good-looking-i-think-you-usually-don-t-have-to-work-as/) [Butch Trucks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/butch-trucks/) > [“He's going to think I tried too had." "He's going to be too busy looking at you to think of anything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myra-mcentire/he-s-going-to-think-i-tried-too-had-he-s-going-to-be-too-busy-looking/) [Myra McEntire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myra-mcentire/) > [To know me is to know me. To be on the outside looking in is to think you know me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-know-me-is-to-know-me-to-be-on-the-outside-looking-in-is-to-think/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don’t know what I’m looking for.” “What not?” “Because … because … I think it might be because if I knew I wouldn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/i-don-t-know-what-i-m-looking-for-what-not-because-because-i-think-it/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [We always say that we don't like looking back because we think it kind of paralyzes you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-mael/we-always-say-that-we-don-t-like-looking-back-because-we-think-it/) [Russell Mael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-mael/) > [I stare at myself in the mirror and I think, 'Wow, I'm really great-looking.'... I think I'm the greatest, anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iggy-pop/i-stare-at-myself-in-the-mirror-and-i-think-wow-i-m-really-great/) [Iggy Pop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iggy-pop/) > [Sometimes I look at you... and you seem to be looking back at me... but sometimes you look away... like you're afraid of what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-i-look-at-you-and-you-seem-to-be-looking-back-at-me-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Look around you ¦. Keep looking until you find any one can love you more than me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/look-around-you-keep-looking-until-you-find-any-one-can-love-you-more/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I just need to look at you.” “Then keep looking, kiddo,” he said. My heart may have melted like a pat of butter on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karina-halle/i-just-need-to-look-at-you-then-keep-looking-kiddo-he-said-my-heart/) [Karina Halle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karina-halle/) > [We have to pay attention to one another, regardless of how someone may look or act, look again. Looking at people is like looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leah-chase/we-have-to-pay-attention-to-one-another-regardless-of-how-someone-may/) [Leah Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leah-chase/) > [“I didn't look back. Sometimes, not looking back is the only mercy the world has left to show.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seanan-mcguire/i-didn-t-look-back-sometimes-not-looking-back-is-the-only-mercy-the/) [Seanan McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seanan-mcguire/) > [Look at me when I'm looking at you. You looking at me but I'm looking through you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-wayne/look-at-me-when-i-m-looking-at-you-you-looking-at-me-but-i-m-looking/) [Lil Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-wayne/) > [“We should think only beautiful things, as much as we can. There is so much beautiful in the world if you look around. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/we-should-think-only-beautiful-things-as-much-as-we-can-there-is-so/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [They say we should never look back, but sometimes looking back is just what we need to do, to realise how far we've come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reetisha-narayan/they-say-we-should-never-look-back-but-sometimes-looking-back-is-just/) Reetisha Narayan ## More by Adyashanti > [The world's problems are, by and large, human problems-the unavoidable consequence of egoic sleepwalking. If we care to look, all the signs are present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adyashanti/the-world-s-problems-are-by-and-large-human-problems-the-unavoidable/) [Adyashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adyashanti/) > [This moment in which you experience stillness is every moment. Don't let the mind seduce you into the past or future. Stay in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adyashanti/this-moment-in-which-you-experience-stillness-is-every-moment-don-t/) [Adyashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adyashanti/) > [When you rest deeply in the Unknown without trying to escape, your experience becomes very vast. As the experience of the Unknown deepens, your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adyashanti/when-you-rest-deeply-in-the-unknown-without-trying-to-escape-your/) [Adyashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adyashanti/) > [Embrace suffering, and you transform your relationship with what causes you to suffer, as well as your relationship with suffering itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adyashanti/embrace-suffering-and-you-transform-your-relationship-with-what/) [Adyashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adyashanti/) > [What is really important you can't understand with your mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adyashanti/what-is-really-important-you-can-t-understand-with-your-mind/) [Adyashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adyashanti/) > [What would happen if you were to allow everything to be exactly as it is? If you gave up the need for control, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adyashanti/what-would-happen-if-you-were-to-allow-everything-to-be-exactly-as-it/) [Adyashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adyashanti/) > [Inherent in the impulse to be free, is insecurity. The impulse to be free comes from outside of the mind, and because of this,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adyashanti/inherent-in-the-impulse-to-be-free-is-insecurity-the-impulse-to-be/) [Adyashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adyashanti/) > [You can't lose what you serve. That's the secret. What you serve, you can't lose. What you don't serve and what you try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adyashanti/you-can-t-lose-what-you-serve-that-s-the-secret-what-you-serve-you/) [Adyashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adyashanti/) > [It is not the pursuit of greater and greater states of happiness and bliss that leads to enlightenment, but the yearning for Reality and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adyashanti/it-is-not-the-pursuit-of-greater-and-greater-states-of-happiness-and/) [Adyashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adyashanti/) > [Suffering is how Life tells you that you are resisting or misperceiving what is real and true. It is the way Life suggests that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adyashanti/suffering-is-how-life-tells-you-that-you-are-resisting-or/) [Adyashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adyashanti/) > [Real meditation is not about mastering a technique; it's about letting go of control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adyashanti/real-meditation-is-not-about-mastering-a-technique-it-s-about-letting/) [Adyashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adyashanti/) > [When emptiness is still, that is eternity. When it moves, that is love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adyashanti/when-emptiness-is-still-that-is-eternity-when-it-moves-that-is-love/) [Adyashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adyashanti/) > [You are an incredible mystery that you will never figure out. To be this mystery consciously is the greatest joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adyashanti/you-are-an-incredible-mystery-that-you-will-never-figure-out-to-be/) [Adyashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adyashanti/) > [Life sustains itself. Let go of the ego and life takes care of itself through you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adyashanti/life-sustains-itself-let-go-of-the-ego-and-life-takes-care-of-itself/) [Adyashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adyashanti/) > [One doesn't stay in a state of nirvana by hiding from difficulties. You stay in nirvana by lavishing nirvana on everyone you meet, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adyashanti/one-doesn-t-stay-in-a-state-of-nirvana-by-hiding-from-difficulties/) [Adyashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adyashanti/) [Explore all 279 Adyashanti quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adyashanti/) ## More Looks quotes > [The real world out there isn't nearly as nice as some people prefer it to be, so don't swallow everything your high-born teachers tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-real-world-out-there-isn-t-nearly-as-nice-as-some-people-prefer/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. Deep down, many prejudices, many hostilities, many fears persist. But if we take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/it-s-easier-to-change-a-law-than-an-age-old-mentality-deep-down-many/) [Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [ \[The Dalai Lama\] told me some years ago, "I've made every concession to China, and I've been as open and tolerant as I could,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/the-dalai-lama-told-me-some-years-ago-i-ve-made-every-concession-to/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [Jobs and money are never the primary cause of stress. Thinking, negative thinking causes stress. The real cause of all problems lie in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/jobs-and-money-are-never-the-primary-cause-of-stress-thinking/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [A man walks down the street. It's a street in a strange world. Maybe it's the third world. Maybe it's his first time around.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/a-man-walks-down-the-street-it-s-a-street-in-a-strange-world-maybe-it/) [Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/) > [There are more important things to focus on in life than how you look.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arden-cho/there-are-more-important-things-to-focus-on-in-life-than-how-you-look/) [Arden Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arden-cho/) > [Your looks don't make you pretty, it's the person inside who makes you pretty!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-chan/your-looks-don-t-make-you-pretty-it-s-the-person-inside-who-makes-you/) [Aaron Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-chan/) > [once in awhile you get shown the light, in the strangest of places if you look it right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-garcia/once-in-awhile-you-get-shown-the-light-in-the-strangest-of-places-if/) [Jerry Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-garcia/) > [I'm very used to working with first time actors - you can just look back at 'E.T.' with Drew Barrymore, and Christian Bale from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/i-m-very-used-to-working-with-first-time-actors-you-can-just-look/) [Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/) > [I don't look at myself as a basketball coach. I look at myself as a leader who happens to coach basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/i-don-t-look-at-myself-as-a-basketball-coach-i-look-at-myself-as-a/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [If you're texting Magnus to say 'I think u r kewl,' I'm going to kill you." "Who's Magnus?" Max inquired. "He's a warlock," said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/if-you-re-texting-magnus-to-say-i-think-u-r-kewl-i-m-going-to-kill/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [If your thighs look like the hood of a white Toyota minivan after a hailstorm, you aren't juicy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-foxworthy/if-your-thighs-look-like-the-hood-of-a-white-toyota-minivan-after-a/) [Jeff Foxworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-foxworthy/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) Greg Perry > [The world's problems are, by and large, human problems-the unavoidable consequence of egoic sleepwalking. If we care to look, all the signs are present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adyashanti/the-world-s-problems-are-by-and-large-human-problems-the-unavoidable/) [Adyashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adyashanti/) Browse all 32,393 Looks quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You can't look at what's looking. 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