--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Awakening is not a thing. It is not a…" description: "\"Awakening is not a thing. It is not a goal, not a concept. It is not something to be attained. It is a metamorphosis. If the caterpillar thinks about t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ee/alejandro-jodorowsky-1890_accepting_awakening-is-not-a-thing-it-is-not-a-goa_2711487.jpg" --- # Awakening is not a thing. It is not a goal, not a concept… ![“Awakening is not a thing. It is not a goal, not a concept. It is not something to be attained. It is a metamorphosis. If the caterpillar thinks about the butterfly it is to become, saying ‘And then I shall have wings and antennae,’ there will never be a butterfly. The caterpillar must accept its…” quote by Alejandro Jodorowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ee/alejandro-jodorowsky-1890_accepting_awakening-is-not-a-thing-it-is-not-a-goa_2711487.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ee/alejandro-jodorowsky-1890_accepting_awakening-is-not-a-thing-it-is-not-a-goa_2711487.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ee/alejandro-jodorowsky-1890_accepting_awakening-is-not-a-thing-it-is-not-a-goa_2711487.jpg) > “Awakening is not a thing. It is not a goal, not a concept. It is not something to be attained. It is a metamorphosis. If the caterpillar thinks about the butterfly it is to become, saying ‘And then I shall have wings and antennae,’ there will never be a butterfly. The caterpillar must accept its own disappearance in its transformation. When the marvelous butterfly takes wing, nothing of the caterpillar remains.” [Alejandro Jodorowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-jodorowsky/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Transformation requires surrendering the self‑image of becoming, not chasing a future form. **In simple terms:** Change is letting go, not striving for a goal. Key Takeaway Embrace the process, not the outcome. Themes growth transformation acceptance Mood contemplative inspiring Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - personal development - spiritual practice - creative work - life transitions Key Concepts metamorphosis self‑transcendence impermanence Questions to Reflect On - What part of yourself must you release to transform? - How does letting go create space for new possibilities? A Different Perspective If you cling to the imagined future, you block real change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Awakening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awakening/) [Butterfly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/butterfly/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Metamorphosis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/metamorphosis/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Transformation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/transformation/) ## Related quotes > [“In our day and age, global society has been saturated with the wrong teaching of false positivity. The denial of darkness never equates the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-joybell-c/in-our-day-and-age-global-society-has-been-saturated-with-the-wrong/) [C. JoyBell C](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-joybell-c/) > [“Change is to human beings what metamorphosis is to the caterpillar. 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You could hear crunching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-hoffman/the-summer-of-the-gypsy-moths-when-all-the-trees-in-their-yard-were/) [Alice Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-hoffman/) > [Why is Caterpillar bad if we create a new job in India or China to receive U.S. exports? It makes no sense to me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-r-oberhelman/why-is-caterpillar-bad-if-we-create-a-new-job-in-india-or-china-to/) [Douglas R. Oberhelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-r-oberhelman/) > [Do you remember how you felt at seventeen? I do and I don't (...) Imagine you came from outer space and someone showed you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/do-you-remember-how-you-felt-at-seventeen-i-do-and-i-don-t-imagine/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) ## More by Alejandro Jodorowsky > [The only thing a master can teach is how to learn about yourself. There are no secrets. They are only techniques to waken yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-jodorowsky/the-only-thing-a-master-can-teach-is-how-to-learn-about-yourself/) [Alejandro Jodorowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-jodorowsky/) > [I have always thought that, of all the arts, the cinema is the most complete art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-jodorowsky/i-have-always-thought-that-of-all-the-arts-the-cinema-is-the-most/) [Alejandro Jodorowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-jodorowsky/) > [My writing routine is everyday I put a record on, the same one since 20 years. Then I burn a stick of incense, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-jodorowsky/my-writing-routine-is-everyday-i-put-a-record-on-the-same-one-since/) [Alejandro Jodorowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-jodorowsky/) > [If you are great, 'El Topo' is a great picture. 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In the morning I say, 'Ah, I am alive still!' All my friends die already. I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-jodorowsky/life-is-beautiful-what-do-you-think-in-the-morning-i-say-ah-i-am/) [Alejandro Jodorowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-jodorowsky/) > [One day I was sitting in my own pain, and suddenly all the pain and troubles of the world came to me. I received…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-jodorowsky/one-day-i-was-sitting-in-my-own-pain-and-suddenly-all-the-pain-and/) [Alejandro Jodorowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-jodorowsky/) > [You can’t have a masterpiece without madness,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-jodorowsky/you-can-t-have-a-masterpiece-without-madness/) [Alejandro Jodorowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-jodorowsky/) > [It's so weird to be alive and to be inside a body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-jodorowsky/it-s-so-weird-to-be-alive-and-to-be-inside-a-body/) [Alejandro Jodorowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-jodorowsky/) > [I don't see myself as a moviemaker only, you know? When I can do a picture, I do. But I don't work like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-jodorowsky/i-don-t-see-myself-as-a-moviemaker-only-you-know-when-i-can-do-a/) [Alejandro Jodorowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-jodorowsky/) > [I was alone as a child. I lived in fairytales, adventures, Shakespeare. They are the friends, my books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-jodorowsky/i-was-alone-as-a-child-i-lived-in-fairytales-adventures-shakespeare/) [Alejandro Jodorowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-jodorowsky/) > [Psychoanalysis wants to heal with words and speaking, but sometimes with speaking, you realize nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-jodorowsky/psychoanalysis-wants-to-heal-with-words-and-speaking-but-sometimes/) [Alejandro Jodorowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-jodorowsky/) > [Words don't heal. Art heals!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-jodorowsky/words-don-t-heal-art-heals/) [Alejandro Jodorowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-jodorowsky/) > [Being essentially a creator, I never set out to shock, always thinking about creating my work and not about the benefits it could produce.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-jodorowsky/being-essentially-a-creator-i-never-set-out-to-shock-always-thinking/) [Alejandro Jodorowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-jodorowsky/) [Explore all 191 Alejandro Jodorowsky quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-jodorowsky/) ## More Accepting quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. 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I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Awakening is not a thing. It is not a goal, not a concept. It is not something to be attained. It is a metamorphosis. If the caterpillar thinks about the butterfly it is to become, saying ‘And then I shall have wings and antennae,’ there will never be a butterfly. The caterpillar must accept its own disappearance in its transformation. 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