--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Spirituality means waking up. Most…" description: "\"Spirituality means waking up. Most people, even though they don't know it, are asleep. They're born asleep, they live asleep, they marry in their sleep..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70d/anthony-de-mello-1331_awakened_spirituality-means-waking-up-most-people_1343797.jpg" --- # Spirituality means waking up. Most people, even though… ![“Spirituality means waking up. Most people, even though they don't know it, are asleep. They're born asleep, they live asleep, they marry in their sleep, they breed children in their sleep, they die in their sleep without ever waking up. They never understand the loveliness and the beauty of this…” quote by Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70d/anthony-de-mello-1331_awakened_spirituality-means-waking-up-most-people_1343797.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70d/anthony-de-mello-1331_awakened_spirituality-means-waking-up-most-people_1343797.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/70d/anthony-de-mello-1331_awakened_spirituality-means-waking-up-most-people_1343797.jpg) > “Spirituality means waking up. Most people, even though they don't know it, are asleep. They're born asleep, they live asleep, they marry in their sleep, they breed children in their sleep, they die in their sleep without ever waking up. They never understand the loveliness and the beauty of this thing that we call human existence.” [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Most people live unconsciously, missing the profound beauty of existence; awakening reveals life's true wonder. **In simple terms:** Many live asleep, missing life's beauty. Key Takeaway Seek conscious awareness daily. Themes awakening existence consciousness Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - meditation - mindful living - education - therapy Key Concepts philosophy spirituality psychology Questions to Reflect On - What does waking up mean to you? - How can you stay present amid routine? A Different Perspective Awakening can be unsettling, challenging identity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Awakening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awakening/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) [Human existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-existence/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Loveliness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loveliness/) [Management](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/management/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Sleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sleep/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) [Wake up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wake-up/) ## Related quotes > [And rural nature is full of the same quickening spirit-it is, in fact, the exhaustless mine from which the poet and the painter have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-cole/and-rural-nature-is-full-of-the-same-quickening-spirit-it-is-in-fact/) [Thomas Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-cole/) > [Waking up without the people you love make you realize how important they are in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abii/waking-up-without-the-people-you-love-make-you-realize-how-important/) Abii > [The waking up of a people is historic. It shows the end of a cycle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marine-le-pen/the-waking-up-of-a-people-is-historic-it-shows-the-end-of-a-cycle/) [Marine Le Pen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marine-le-pen/) > [Enlightenment means waking up to what you truly are and then being that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adyashanti/enlightenment-means-waking-up-to-what-you-truly-are-and-then-being/) [Adyashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adyashanti/) > [“I cry and wonder how I'm going to fall asleep because sleeping means waking and going through all this again”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-schutz/i-cry-and-wonder-how-i-m-going-to-fall-asleep-because-sleeping-means/) [Samantha Schutz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-schutz/) > [“It means that every waking breath you take, every step you take, you don't just take to move your own life forward, but ours.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meredith-wild/it-means-that-every-waking-breath-you-take-every-step-you-take-you/) [Meredith Wild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meredith-wild/) > [“Some people take months, years, maybe even decades, during which they aren't sure whether they're on the outside of Christian faith looking in, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright/some-people-take-months-years-maybe-even-decades-during-which-they/) [N.T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright/) > [I love doing 'The Breakfast Show,' I like waking up with people and it will be hard to stop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-cox/i-love-doing-the-breakfast-show-i-like-waking-up-with-people-and-it/) [Sara Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-cox/) > [Choosing succulence is a deliberate act of personal revolution. It means waking up! Embracing your true self, studying your patterns, and letting out your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sark/choosing-succulence-is-a-deliberate-act-of-personal-revolution-it/) [Sark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sark/) > [Going back to school means; waking up early, straightening my hair, doing my makeup and crushing on boys who dont know I exist...im not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/going-back-to-school-means-waking-up-early-straightening-my-hair/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Waking up, for many people, is apparently a positive experience. There are twittering birds and the smell of fresh coffee fills the air. These…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-petrie-shaw/waking-up-for-many-people-is-apparently-a-positive-experience-there/) [Amy Petrie Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-petrie-shaw/) > [Yoga is a technology for arriving in this present moment. It is a means of waking up from our spiritual amnesia, so that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-farhi/yoga-is-a-technology-for-arriving-in-this-present-moment-it-is-a/) [Donna Farhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-farhi/) > [Being a human means waking up in this world, where we all have to work and slog to put food on the table.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/being-a-human-means-waking-up-in-this-world-where-we-all-have-to-work/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [“I have always been paranoid about waking people up. When I was younger and would come home late, I would take about twenty minutes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-pasricha/i-have-always-been-paranoid-about-waking-people-up-when-i-was-younger/) [Neil Pasricha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-pasricha/) > [I feel like music does have a role to play in waking people up; it can be an alarm clock or it can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debby-ryan/i-feel-like-music-does-have-a-role-to-play-in-waking-people-up-it-can/) [Debby Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debby-ryan/) ## More by Anthony de Mello > [The poor think they will be happy when they become rich. The rich think they will be happy when they are rid of their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/the-poor-think-they-will-be-happy-when-they-become-rich-the-rich/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [You only change what you understand. What you do not understand and are not aware of, you repress. You dont change. But when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/you-only-change-what-you-understand-what-you-do-not-understand-and/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [A zealous disciple expressed a desire to teach others the Truth and asked the Master what he thought about this. The Master said, "Wait."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/a-zealous-disciple-expressed-a-desire-to-teach-others-the-truth-and/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [As the Arabs say, "The nature of rain is the same, but it makes thorns grow in the marshes and flowers in the gardens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/as-the-arabs-say-the-nature-of-rain-is-the-same-but-it-makes-thorns/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [Sinners often speak the truth. And saints have led people astray. Examine what is said, not the one who says it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/sinners-often-speak-the-truth-and-saints-have-led-people-astray/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [Isn't there such a thing as social liberation?" "Of course there is," said the Master. "How would you describe it?" "Liberation from the need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/isn-t-there-such-a-thing-as-social-liberation-of-course-there-is-said/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [The important thing is not to know who "I" is or what "I" is. You'll never succeed. There are no words for it. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/the-important-thing-is-not-to-know-who-i-is-or-what-i-is-you-ll-never/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [And increasingly - you know this and so do I we're losing the youth everywhere. They hate us; they are not interested in having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/and-increasingly-you-know-this-and-so-do-i-we-re-losing-the-youth/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [Spirituality practiced in the state of activity is incomparably superior to that practiced in a state of withdrawel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/spirituality-practiced-in-the-state-of-activity-is-incomparably/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [You know, all mystics - Catholic, Christian, non-Christian, no matter what their theology, no matter what their religion - are unanimous on one thing:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/you-know-all-mystics-catholic-christian-non-christian-no-matter-what/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [There were rules in the monastery, but the Master always warned against the tyranny of the law. 'Obedience keeps the rules,' he would say.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/there-were-rules-in-the-monastery-but-the-master-always-warned/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [A disciple, in his reverence for the Master, looked upon him as God incarnate. "Tell me, O Master," he said, "why you have come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/a-disciple-in-his-reverence-for-the-master-looked-upon-him-as-god/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [“And how about you? Do you want to understand and play the game of life or fool around with miracles?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/and-how-about-you-do-you-want-to-understand-and-play-the-game-of-life/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [You don't have to add anything in order to be happy; you've got to drop something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/you-don-t-have-to-add-anything-in-order-to-be-happy-you-ve-got-to/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [Rare indeed, is the relationship in which the other is not cultivated for what one can get for oneself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/rare-indeed-is-the-relationship-in-which-the-other-is-not-cultivated/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) [Explore all 253 Anthony de Mello quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) ## More Awakened quotes > [An enlightened awareness is within each one of us, right at this moment. This enlightened awareness is truly unborn and marvellously illuminating; and everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bankei-yotaku/an-enlightened-awareness-is-within-each-one-of-us-right-at-this/) [Bankei Yotaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bankei-yotaku/) > [If your heart isn't yet illumined Be awake always, be a seeker of the heart, Be at war continually with your carnal soul. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/if-your-heart-isn-t-yet-illumined-be-awake-always-be-a-seeker-of-the/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [There’s been a problem, a problem eating away at me from the inside out. I’ve become weak, I’ve shown human compassion, and it has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kane/there-s-been-a-problem-a-problem-eating-away-at-me-from-the-inside/) [Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kane/) > [Although all men are born free, slavery has been the general lot of the human race. Ignorant--they have been cheated; asleep--they have been surprised;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/although-all-men-are-born-free-slavery-has-been-the-general-lot-of/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION is a manual and a call to action for awakened patriots who are too intelligent to believe the leftist media lies and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-palin/righteous-indignation-is-a-manual-and-a-call-to-action-for-awakened/) [Sarah Palin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-palin/) > [Don Quixote followed nature, and being satisfied with his first sleep, did not solicit more. As for Sancho, he never wanted a second, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/don-quixote-followed-nature-and-being-satisfied-with-his-first-sleep/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) > [When I write about "realizations," I am describing a state in which a practitioner has wisdom of who she or he is, and has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-targ/when-i-write-about-realizations-i-am-describing-a-state-in-which-a/) Russell Targ > [To live a present and awakened life, simply be responsive to the moment. It is very simple. If you are hungry, eat. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-jacobson/to-live-a-present-and-awakened-life-simply-be-responsive-to-the/) [Leonard Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-jacobson/) > [I believe that it is truly important for everyone to confront in dialogue the historical reality of the Reformation, its consequences and the responses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-believe-that-it-is-truly-important-for-everyone-to-confront-in/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [“The truth is: while it may have been rough getting here, I’ve awakened to a dream. The most incredible man in the world came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dawn/the-truth-is-while-it-may-have-been-rough-getting-here-i-ve-awakened/) [Tessa Dawn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dawn/) > [In our true blissful essence of mind is known that everything is alright forever and forever and forever...listen to the silence inside the illusion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/in-our-true-blissful-essence-of-mind-is-known-that-everything-is/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [At certain times, a silent mind is very important, but 'silent' does not mean closed. The silent mind is an alert, awakened mind; a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thubten-yeshe/at-certain-times-a-silent-mind-is-very-important-but-silent-does-not/) [Thubten Yeshe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thubten-yeshe/) > [In Buddhism, there are three gems: Buddha, the awakened one; Dharma, the way of understanding and loving; and Sangha, the community that lives in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/in-buddhism-there-are-three-gems-buddha-the-awakened-one-dharma-the/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [What portion in the world can the artist have, Who has awakened from the common dream, But dissipation and despair?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/what-portion-in-the-world-can-the-artist-have-who-has-awakened-from/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) > [The living word awakened my soul, gave it light, hope, joy, set it free!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/the-living-word-awakened-my-soul-gave-it-light-hope-joy-set-it-free/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) Browse all 330 Awakened quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Spirituality means waking up. 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