--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We have limited time in our life…" description: "\"We have limited time in our life, therefore we should try to teach ourselves, not to teach others. We should conquer ourselves, rather than conquer oth..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdb/ajahn-chah-4829_arise_we-have-limited-time-in-our-life-therefo_555920.png" --- # We have limited time in our life, therefore we should try… ![“We have limited time in our life, therefore we should try to teach ourselves, not to teach others. We should conquer ourselves, rather than conquer others. Whether coming or going, standing, sitting or lying down, our mind should be focused in this way. If we practise like this and develop…” quote by Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdb/ajahn-chah-4829_arise_we-have-limited-time-in-our-life-therefo_555920.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdb/ajahn-chah-4829_arise_we-have-limited-time-in-our-life-therefo_555920.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdb/ajahn-chah-4829_arise_we-have-limited-time-in-our-life-therefo_555920.png) > “We have limited time in our life, therefore we should try to teach ourselves, not to teach others. We should conquer ourselves, rather than conquer others. Whether coming or going, standing, sitting or lying down, our mind should be focused in this way. If we practise like this and develop mindfulness continuously, wisdom arises quickly and this is a fast way of practice.” [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Cultivating mindfulness through self‑discipline leads to rapid wisdom, rather than focusing on teaching others. **In simple terms:** Focus on self‑growth to develop wisdom quickly. Key Takeaway Practice mindfulness daily for swift insight. Themes mindfulness self‑mastery wisdom personal growth Mood calm inspired Type instructional philosophical When to use this quote - daily routine - solitary retreats - learning environments Key Concepts meditation continuous practice Questions to Reflect On - What daily habits can you adopt for mindfulness? - How does self‑discipline benefit others? A Different Perspective Self‑focus may neglect communal responsibilities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arise/) [Conquer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conquer/) [Continuously Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/continuously-wisdom-4618194/) [Develop Mindfulness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/develop-mindfulness-1323209/) [Focused](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focused/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Limited time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/limited-time/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Lying down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying-down/) [Meditation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meditation/) [Mental health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mental-health/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Mind Focused](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind-focused-795350/) [Mindfulness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mindfulness/) [Mindfulness Continuously](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mindfulness-continuously-4618193/) [Our lives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-lives/) [Practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice/) [Practise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practise/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Sitting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sitting/) [Standing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standing/) [Teach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teach/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [Whatever forms of meditation you practice, the most important point is to apply mindfulness continuously, and make a sustained effort. It is unrealistic to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/whatever-forms-of-meditation-you-practice-the-most-important-point-is/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [“Meditation is like the training or practice grounds. It isn't the goal in and of itself. Many people think that they must sit lotus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shea-matthew-fisher/meditation-is-like-the-training-or-practice-grounds-it-isn-t-the-goal/) [Shea Matthew Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shea-matthew-fisher/) > [“A strategy that some people use to develop a mindfulness habit is by tying it to an already existing behavior that is done regularly.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shea-matthew-fisher/a-strategy-that-some-people-use-to-develop-a-mindfulness-habit-is-by/) [Shea Matthew Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shea-matthew-fisher/) > [Don't think that only sitting with the eyes closed is practice. If you do think this way, then quickly change your thinking. Steady practice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/don-t-think-that-only-sitting-with-the-eyes-closed-is-practice-if-you/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [Keep your mind focused on what you want and act accordingly. You will achieve success!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/keep-your-mind-focused-on-what-you-want-and-act-accordingly-you-will/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Management is the perfect job because when my mind is focused it's incredibly productive. When it gets unfocused or I have lots of free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-barton/management-is-the-perfect-job-because-when-my-mind-is-focused-it-s/) [Joey Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-barton/) > [I've done a fair amount of that stuff... when we did 'Lord of the Rings' the transformation sequence from Smeagol to Gollum was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-serkis/i-ve-done-a-fair-amount-of-that-stuff-when-we-did-lord-of-the-rings/) [Andy Serkis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-serkis/) > [I showed that I can keep my mind focused.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-crawford/i-showed-that-i-can-keep-my-mind-focused/) [Terence Crawford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-crawford/) > [I don't really like listening to so much rap because I like to have my mind focused on what I'm doing instead of worrying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mustard/i-don-t-really-like-listening-to-so-much-rap-because-i-like-to-have/) [Mustard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mustard/) > [My mind is always focused on the country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tan-cheng-bock/my-mind-is-always-focused-on-the-country/) [Tan Cheng Bock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tan-cheng-bock/) > [It is necessary to be occupied almost all the time, to have your mind focused; otherwise, you get very spaced out. There are many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/it-is-necessary-to-be-occupied-almost-all-the-time-to-have-your-mind/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Everything is worship if your mind is focused on the present moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/everything-is-worship-if-your-mind-is-focused-on-the-present-moment/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [I come from a city with a lot of violence and things like that, but my mind was always focused on what I wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gervonta-davis/i-come-from-a-city-with-a-lot-of-violence-and-things-like-that-but-my/) [Gervonta Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gervonta-davis/) > [Running cleared the day's cobwebs from my mind and focused my thinking, and gave me time and space to sort out anything that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-snell/running-cleared-the-day-s-cobwebs-from-my-mind-and-focused-my/) [Peter Snell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-snell/) > [“Stop minding other people's business. What they are thinking about you is their business. Don't mind it. Be focused.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/stop-minding-other-people-s-business-what-they-are-thinking-about-you/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) ## More by Ajahn Chah > [If you have time to be mindful, you have time to meditate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/if-you-have-time-to-be-mindful-you-have-time-to-meditate/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [Letting go a little brings a little peace. Letting go a lot brings a lot of peace. Letting go completely brings complete peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/letting-go-a-little-brings-a-little-peace-letting-go-a-lot-brings-a/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [Mindfulness is life. Whenever we don’t have mindfulness, when we are heedless, it’s as if we are dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/mindfulness-is-life-whenever-we-don-t-have-mindfulness-when-we-are/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [We don't meditate to see heaven, but to end suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/we-don-t-meditate-to-see-heaven-but-to-end-suffering/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [Some people are afraid of generosity. They feel they will be taken advantage of or oppressed. In cultivating generosity, we are only oppressing our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/some-people-are-afraid-of-generosity-they-feel-they-will-be-taken/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [Anything which is troubling you, anything which is irritating you, THAT is your teacher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/anything-which-is-troubling-you-anything-which-is-irritating-you-that/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [Know and watch your heart. It's pure but emotions come to colour it. So let your mind be like a tightly woven net to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/know-and-watch-your-heart-it-s-pure-but-emotions-come-to-colour-it-so/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [A woman wanted to know how to deal with anger. I asked when anger arose whose anger it was. She said it was hers.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/a-woman-wanted-to-know-how-to-deal-with-anger-i-asked-when-anger/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [Sati is life. Whenever we don't have sati, when we are heedless, it's as if we are dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/sati-is-life-whenever-we-don-t-have-sati-when-we-are-heedless-it-s-as/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [In practice, some come to see easily, some with difficulty. But whatever the case, never mind. Difficult or easy, the Buddha said not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/in-practice-some-come-to-see-easily-some-with-difficulty-but-whatever/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [When sitting in meditation, say, "That's not my business!" with every thought that comes by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/when-sitting-in-meditation-say-that-s-not-my-business-with-every/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [Proper effort is not the effort to make something particular happen. It is the effort to be aware and awake each moment, the effort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/proper-effort-is-not-the-effort-to-make-something-particular-happen/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [Regarding this Dhamma, it is not something that we can simply talk about or take another's word for it. We need to develop meditation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/regarding-this-dhamma-it-is-not-something-that-we-can-simply-talk/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [These days people don't search for the Truth. People study simply in order to find knowledge necessary to make a living, raise families and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/these-days-people-don-t-search-for-the-truth-people-study-simply-in/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) > [Things are simply the way they are. They don't give us suffering. Like a thorn: Does a sharp thorn give us suffering? No. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/things-are-simply-the-way-they-are-they-don-t-give-us-suffering-like/) [Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) [Explore all 105 Ajahn Chah quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/) ## More Arise quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [The financial crisis we are facing today arises from the fact that there is almost no more social, cultural, natural, and spiritual capital left…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-eisenstein/the-financial-crisis-we-are-facing-today-arises-from-the-fact-that/) [Charles Eisenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-eisenstein/) > [Let art, then, imitate nature, find what she desires, and follow as she directs. 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When the conception of change is beyond the limits of the possible, there are no words to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-rowbotham/the-oppressed-without-hope-are-mysteriously-quiet-when-the-conception/) [Sheila Rowbotham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-rowbotham/) > [I arise full of eagerness and energy, knowing well what achievement lies ahead of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zane-grey/i-arise-full-of-eagerness-and-energy-knowing-well-what-achievement/) [Zane Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zane-grey/) > [When you train your thoughts to dissolve as they arise, they will cross your mind like a bird crosses the sky--without leaving a trace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julietta-suzuki/when-you-train-your-thoughts-to-dissolve-as-they-arise-they-will/) [Julietta Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julietta-suzuki/) > [Nothing, not even the best and noblest, can go on as it now is. 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