--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When mortals are alive, they worry about…" description: "\"When mortals are alive, they worry about death. When they're full, they worry about hunger. Theirs is the Great Uncertainty. But sages don't consider t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b75/bodhidharma-4333_action_when-mortals-are-alive-they-worry-about_2688187.jpg" --- # When mortals are alive, they worry about death. When… ![“When mortals are alive, they worry about death. When they're full, they worry about hunger. Theirs is the Great Uncertainty. But sages don't consider the past. And they don't worry about the future. Nor do they cling to the present. And from moment to moment they follow the Way.” quote by Bodhidharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b75/bodhidharma-4333_action_when-mortals-are-alive-they-worry-about_2688187.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b75/bodhidharma-4333_action_when-mortals-are-alive-they-worry-about_2688187.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b75/bodhidharma-4333_action_when-mortals-are-alive-they-worry-about_2688187.jpg) > “When mortals are alive, they worry about death. When they're full, they worry about hunger. Theirs is the Great Uncertainty. But sages don't consider the past. And they don't worry about the future. Nor do they cling to the present. And from moment to moment they follow the Way.” [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. Sages ignore past, future, and present, focusing on moment‑to‑moment flow. **In simple terms:** Sages live in the now. Key Takeaway Practice present‑moment awareness. Themes mindfulness impermanence wisdom Mood calm focused Type spiritual practical When to use this quote - meditation - daily mindfulness - stress reduction Key Concepts Zen philosophy temporal detachment spiritual practice Questions to Reflect On - How do you stay present? - What distracts you from the Way? A Different Perspective Hard to sustain without discipline. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) [Alive Worry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive-worry-2635564/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Hunger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hunger/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Mortals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mortals/) [Mortals Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mortals-alive-2635563/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Sage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sage/) [Sages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sages/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Uncertainty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uncertainty/) [Uncertainty Sages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uncertainty-sages-2635562/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Worry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worry/) [Worry About The Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worry-about-the-future/) ## Related quotes > [Worry about staying alive first. 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There is nothing to obstruct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/whatever-you-believe-that-you-will-be-if-you-believe-yourselves-to-be/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) ## 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. 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