Live and die Quote by Alan Wilson Watts
““Ye suffer from yourselves, none else compels, None other holds you that ye live and die And whir upon the wheel, and hug and kiss its spokes of agony, Its tire of tears, its nave of nothingness. Discovering this the mind becomes whole: the split between I and me, man and the world, the ideal and the real, comes to an end. Paranoia, the mind beside itself, becomes metanoia, the mind with itself and so free from itself. Free from clutching at themselves the hands can handle; free from looking after themselves the eyes can see; free from trying to understand itself thought can think. In such feeling, seeing, and thinking life requires no future to complete itself nor explanation to justify itself. In this moment it is finished.””
About This Quote
Source Lecture: The Nature of Self, 1962
Self‑imposed suffering arises from separating mind from reality; dissolving this split leads to unity, freedom, and effortless being.
In simple terms: Freedom comes when mind stops separating self from world.
Key Takeaway
Release mental divisions to experience unity.
Themes
spirituality
mindfulness
non‑duality
freedom
Mood
calm
contemplative
insightful
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- meditation
- therapy
- creative work
- daily stress
Key Concepts
metaphysics
psychology
existentialism
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you practice non‑attachment today?
- What mental splits limit you?
A Different Perspective
May be abstract for practical application.
