--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Trying to find a buddha or enlightenment…" description: "\"Trying to find a buddha or enlightenment is like trying to grab space.\" — Bodhidharma" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb3/bodhidharma-4333_buddhism_trying-to-find-a-buddha-or-enlightenment_1713162.jpg" --- # Trying to find a buddha or enlightenment is like trying to… ![“Trying to find a buddha or enlightenment is like trying to grab space.” quote by Bodhidharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb3/bodhidharma-4333_buddhism_trying-to-find-a-buddha-or-enlightenment_1713162.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb3/bodhidharma-4333_buddhism_trying-to-find-a-buddha-or-enlightenment_1713162.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb3/bodhidharma-4333_buddhism_trying-to-find-a-buddha-or-enlightenment_1713162.jpg) > “Trying to find a buddha or enlightenment is like trying to grab space.” [Bodhidharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bodhidharma/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Seeking enlightenment is as impossible as grasping empty space; it eludes concrete capture. **In simple terms:** Enlightenment cannot be grasped like a physical object. Key Takeaway Embrace non‑attachment to concepts. Themes spirituality mindfulness impermanence Mood calm inquisitive Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - meditation practice - philosophical study - daily mindfulness Key Concepts Zen Buddhism emptiness non‑dualism Questions to Reflect On - How can you experience insight without trying to “catch” it? - What does letting go of grasping teach you about reality? A Different Perspective Attempting to control the ungraspable can cause frustration. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddha/) [Buddha Enlightenment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddha-enlightenment-745808/) [Buddhism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhism/) [Enlightenment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enlightenment/) [Enlightenment Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enlightenment-like-1085140/) [Grab Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grab-space-1265160/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Trying Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying-buddha-1265159/) ## Related quotes > [Zen was an attempt to get back to the purest teachings of the Buddha -enlightenment without strings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/zen-was-an-attempt-to-get-back-to-the-purest-teachings-of-the-buddha/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Enlightenment is like witnessing the brilliant sun for the first time in the morning. It is like seeing the beautiful flowers that grow in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/enlightenment-is-like-witnessing-the-brilliant-sun-for-the-first-time/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [While I may not be able to describe to you exactly what enlightenment is like, I can tell you that it is wonderful beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/while-i-may-not-be-able-to-describe-to-you-exactly-what-enlightenment/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [In America people have this funny idea about enlightenment and money. Money expresses a level of commitment. Studying enlightenment is like going to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/in-america-people-have-this-funny-idea-about-enlightenment-and-money/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [The mind is the Buddha, and the Buddha is the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bodhidharma/the-mind-is-the-buddha-and-the-buddha-is-the-mind/) [Bodhidharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bodhidharma/) > [We might think we can find a buddha or enlightenment somewhere beyond this mind; we might think we can find serenity, clarity, and meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-shugen-arnold/we-might-think-we-can-find-a-buddha-or-enlightenment-somewhere-beyond/) [Geoffrey Shugen Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-shugen-arnold/) > [“Suffering led the Buddha to enlightenment, and it may cause us, against our will, to grow in compassion, awareness, and possibly eventually peace.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huston-smith/suffering-led-the-buddha-to-enlightenment-and-it-may-cause-us-against/) [Huston Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huston-smith/) > [“One day, soon after the Buddha’s enlightenment, a man saw the Buddha walking toward him. 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Enlightenment is more like an experiencing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-dhyan-giten/enlightenment-is-not-an-experience-at-all-because-the-experiencer-is/) [Swami Dhyan Giten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-dhyan-giten/) > [Sitting peacefully on a cushion day and night seeking to attain Buddhahood, rejecting life and death in hopes of realizing enlightenment, is all like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shoitsu-omatsu/sitting-peacefully-on-a-cushion-day-and-night-seeking-to-attain/) [Shoitsu Omatsu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shoitsu-omatsu/) > [In the assemblies of the enlightened ones there have been many cases of mastering the Way bringing forth the heart of plants and trees;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dogen/in-the-assemblies-of-the-enlightened-ones-there-have-been-many-cases/) [Dogen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dogen/) > [As an enlightened teacher of Buddhism, I'd like to welcome you to the pathway to enlightenment. I'd like to encourage you to be more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/as-an-enlightened-teacher-of-buddhism-i-d-like-to-welcome-you-to-the/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Truly, he thought, the way of enlightenment is like unto half a mile of broken glass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/truly-he-thought-the-way-of-enlightenment-is-like-unto-half-a-mile-of/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Looking for enlightenment is like looking for a flashlight when all you need the flashlight for is to find the flashlight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lew-welch/looking-for-enlightenment-is-like-looking-for-a-flashlight-when-all/) [Lew Welch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lew-welch/) > [A man searching for enlightenment is like a man sitting on an Ass in search of an Ass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/a-man-searching-for-enlightenment-is-like-a-man-sitting-on-an-ass-in/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) ## More by Bodhidharma > [Unless you see your nature, all this talk about cause & effect is nonsense. Buddhas don't practice nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bodhidharma/unless-you-see-your-nature-all-this-talk-about-cause-effect-is/) [Bodhidharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bodhidharma/) > [“Those who worship don't know, and those who know don't worship.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bodhidharma/those-who-worship-don-t-know-and-those-who-know-don-t-worship/) [Bodhidharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bodhidharma/) > [If you see your nature, you don't need to read sutras or invoke buddhas. Erudition and knowledge are not only useless but also cloud…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bodhidharma/if-you-see-your-nature-you-don-t-need-to-read-sutras-or-invoke/) [Bodhidharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bodhidharma/) > [People who don't see their own nature and imagine they can practice thoughtlessness all the time are liars and fools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bodhidharma/people-who-don-t-see-their-own-nature-and-imagine-they-can-practice/) [Bodhidharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bodhidharma/) > [The mind is the Buddha, and the Buddha is the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bodhidharma/the-mind-is-the-buddha-and-the-buddha-is-the-mind/) [Bodhidharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bodhidharma/) > [Whoever realizes that the six senses aren't real, that the five aggregates are fictions, that no such things can be located anywhere in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bodhidharma/whoever-realizes-that-the-six-senses-aren-t-real-that-the-five/) [Bodhidharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bodhidharma/) > [If you use your mind to study reality, you won't understand either your mind or reality. If you study reality without using your mind,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bodhidharma/if-you-use-your-mind-to-study-reality-you-won-t-understand-either/) [Bodhidharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bodhidharma/) > [Many roads lead to the Path, but basically there are only two: reason and practice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bodhidharma/many-roads-lead-to-the-path-but-basically-there-are-only-two-reason/) [Bodhidharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bodhidharma/) > [All Buddhas preach emptiness. Why? Because they wish to crush the concrete ideas of the students. If a student even clings to an idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bodhidharma/all-buddhas-preach-emptiness-why-because-they-wish-to-crush-the/) [Bodhidharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bodhidharma/) > [Buddhas don't practice nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bodhidharma/buddhas-don-t-practice-nonsense/) [Bodhidharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bodhidharma/) > [Not thinking about anything is Zen. Once you know this, walking, sitting, or lying down, everything you do is Zen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bodhidharma/not-thinking-about-anything-is-zen-once-you-know-this-walking-sitting/) [Bodhidharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bodhidharma/) > [When you don't understand, you depend on reality. When you do understand, reality depends on you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bodhidharma/when-you-don-t-understand-you-depend-on-reality-when-you-do/) [Bodhidharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bodhidharma/) > [And the Buddha is the person who's free: free of plans, free of cares.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bodhidharma/and-the-buddha-is-the-person-who-s-free-free-of-plans-free-of-cares/) [Bodhidharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bodhidharma/) > [The Way is basically perfect. It doesn't require perfecting. The Way has no form or sound. It's subtle and hard to perceive. It's like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bodhidharma/the-way-is-basically-perfect-it-doesn-t-require-perfecting-the-way/) [Bodhidharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bodhidharma/) > [The Dharma is the truth that all natures are pure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bodhidharma/the-dharma-is-the-truth-that-all-natures-are-pure/) [Bodhidharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bodhidharma/) [Explore all 112 Bodhidharma quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bodhidharma/) ## More Buddha quotes > [Of course the Dharma-body of the Buddha was the hedge at the bottom of the garden. At the same time, and no less obviously,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/of-course-the-dharma-body-of-the-buddha-was-the-hedge-at-the-bottom/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [The birds fly in the sky but they don't leave any footmarks. 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I read 'Confession of a Buddhist Atheist' by Stephen Batchelor and Karen Armstrong's biography of Buddha, which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-o-hare/i-went-on-a-buddha-jag-i-read-confession-of-a-buddhist-atheist-by/) [Denis O'Hare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-o-hare/) > [The Buddha, the Godhead, resides quite as comfortably in the circuits of a digital computer or the gears of a cycle transmission as he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-pirsig/the-buddha-the-godhead-resides-quite-as-comfortably-in-the-circuits/) [Robert M. Pirsig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-pirsig/) > [Why don't the names of Buddha, Mohammed, Confucius offend people? The reason is that these others didn't claim to be God, but Jesus did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-mcdowell/why-don-t-the-names-of-buddha-mohammed-confucius-offend-people-the/) [Josh McDowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-mcdowell/) > [When people suffer, their relationships usually suffer as well. Period. And we all suffer because, as the Buddha says, that's the nature of being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-karr/when-people-suffer-their-relationships-usually-suffer-as-well-period/) [Mary Karr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-karr/) > [The real power of the Buddha was that he had so much love. He saw people trapped in their notions of small separate self,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/the-real-power-of-the-buddha-was-that-he-had-so-much-love-he-saw/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [“Then Maitreya Bodhisattva thought: “Now the World-Honored One has displayed a marvelous sign. But what is the cause or reason for this auspicious sign?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-reeves/then-maitreya-bodhisattva-thought-now-the-world-honored-one-has/) [Gene Reeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-reeves/) > [It is possible that the next Buddha will not take the form of an individual. The next Buddha may take the form of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/it-is-possible-that-the-next-buddha-will-not-take-the-form-of-an/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [“The foundational Vajrakilaya is the sun shining in the sky behind the clouds. The path Vajrakilaya is the removal of the clouds from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gyatrul-rinpoche/the-foundational-vajrakilaya-is-the-sun-shining-in-the-sky-behind-the/) [Gyatrul Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gyatrul-rinpoche/) > [Inside we are all Golden Buddha's, but we grew to believe we were made of clay. 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Hence, whenever anyone enters that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/i-hold-that-all-the-teachers-of-the-world-have-attained-that-life/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) [Browse all 411 Buddha quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddha/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Trying to find a buddha or enlightenment is like trying to grab space.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bodhidharma" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bodhidharma/trying-to-find-a-buddha-or-enlightenment-is-like-trying-to-grab-space/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Buddha" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bodhidharma/trying-to-find-a-buddha-or-enlightenment-is-like-trying-to-grab-space/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb3/bodhidharma-4333_buddhism_trying-to-find-a-buddha-or-enlightenment_1713162.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb3/bodhidharma-4333_buddhism_trying-to-find-a-buddha-or-enlightenment_1713162.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb3/bodhidharma-4333_buddhism_trying-to-find-a-buddha-or-enlightenment_1713162.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Trying to find a buddha or enlightenment is like trying to grab space.” — Bodhidharma", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Bodhidharma", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bodhidharma/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Trying to find a buddha or...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bodhidharma/trying-to-find-a-buddha-or-enlightenment-is-like-trying-to-grab-space/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bodhidharma/trying-to-find-a-buddha-or-enlightenment-is-like-trying-to-grab-space/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```