--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I say, if I talk about, 'I want to be…" description: "\"If I say, if I talk about, 'I want to be enlightened...' it implies a future. And there isn't any.\" — Byron Katie" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd2/byron-katie-553_enlightened_if-i-say-if-i-talk-about-i-want-to-be-en_1512635.png" --- # If I say, if I talk about, 'I want to be enlightened...'… ![“If I say, if I talk about, 'I want to be enlightened...' it implies a future. And there isn't any.” quote by Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd2/byron-katie-553_enlightened_if-i-say-if-i-talk-about-i-want-to-be-en_1512635.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd2/byron-katie-553_enlightened_if-i-say-if-i-talk-about-i-want-to-be-en_1512635.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cd2/byron-katie-553_enlightened_if-i-say-if-i-talk-about-i-want-to-be-en_1512635.png) > “If I say, if I talk about, 'I want to be enlightened...' it implies a future. And there isn't any.” [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She points out that wanting enlightenment creates a future‑oriented expectation, yet enlightenment is a present reality. **In simple terms:** Desire for enlightenment implies it’s not now. Key Takeaway Focus on present awareness instead of future promises. Themes mindfulness expectation spirituality Mood contemplative calm Type spiritual philosophical When to use this quote - meditation practice - daily reflection - therapy sessions Key Concepts present‑moment awareness desire illusion of future Questions to Reflect On - What does “enlightened” mean to you now? - How can you notice present awareness? A Different Perspective Future‑oriented goals can distract from present experience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Enlightened](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enlightened/) [Enlightened Implies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enlightened-implies-5572171/) [Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future/) [Future Isn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future-isn-353208/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Implies Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/implies-future-5572170/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Want Enlightened](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-enlightened-327743/) ## Related quotes > [People love misery, they love to feel sorry for themselves, and they definitely don't want to be enlightened. That's the first thing they tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/people-love-misery-they-love-to-feel-sorry-for-themselves-and-they/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [When someone says to me "I want to be enlightened." I immediately take a vacation because I know that the person isn't serious. I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/when-someone-says-to-me-i-want-to-be-enlightened-i-immediately-take-a/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [If you want to become enlightened, you've got to get all the bullshit out of your life. You have to clear up your mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-want-to-become-enlightened-you-ve-got-to-get-all-the-bullshit/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [If you want to see how enlightened you are, go spend a week with your family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/if-you-want-to-see-how-enlightened-you-are-go-spend-a-week-with-your/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [I want to win football games first and foremost. But I also want to be enlightened and educated on issues and just keep an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-cousins/i-want-to-win-football-games-first-and-foremost-but-i-also-want-to-be/) [Kirk Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-cousins/) > [I suddenly feel left out of a future that isn't even going to happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jandy-nelson/i-suddenly-feel-left-out-of-a-future-that-isn-t-even-going-to-happen/) [Jandy Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jandy-nelson/) > [The future isn't what is used to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yogi-berra/the-future-isn-t-what-is-used-to-be/) [Yogi Berra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yogi-berra/) > [Well, the past is gone, I know that. The future isn't here yet, whatever it's going to be. So, all there is, is this.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-murray/well-the-past-is-gone-i-know-that-the-future-isn-t-here-yet-whatever/) [Bill Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-murray/) > [“I leaned back into my chair, folded my arms together and made like I was pondering. ‘I understand. You’re worried about the future.’ ‘Damn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-polansky/i-leaned-back-into-my-chair-folded-my-arms-together-and-made-like-i/) [Daniel Polansky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-polansky/) > [Do whatever you have to while there is chance for it, future isn't guaranteed, make the best of your present](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaze-olamiday/do-whatever-you-have-to-while-there-is-chance-for-it-future-isn-t/) [Blaze Olamiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaze-olamiday/) > [The future isn't just a place you'll go. It's a place you will invent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-duarte/the-future-isn-t-just-a-place-you-ll-go-it-s-a-place-you-will-invent/) [Nancy Duarte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-duarte/) > [So one predicts the future as much as one is cause. The future isn't a pattern laid out to abuse and bully you. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-ron-hubbard/so-one-predicts-the-future-as-much-as-one-is-cause-the-future-isn-t-a/) [L. Ron Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-ron-hubbard/) > [Your future isn't programmed by your past; it's programmed by your thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/your-future-isn-t-programmed-by-your-past-it-s-programmed-by-your/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [The future isn’t ahead of us. It has already happened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-kotler/the-future-isn-t-ahead-of-us-it-has-already-happened/) [Philip Kotler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-kotler/) > [Living in the past isn't going to give you a future. Living in the future isn't going to give you today. Live for today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/living-in-the-past-isn-t-going-to-give-you-a-future-living-in-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Byron Katie > [The moment it begins to question itself, the mind becomes so clear that it starts working with itself rather than with the body's identification.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/the-moment-it-begins-to-question-itself-the-mind-becomes-so-clear/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [People don't need sudden revelations. They get what they need when they need it, thought by thought by thought. It's a constant thing when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/people-don-t-need-sudden-revelations-they-get-what-they-need-when/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [Your parents are your projection-nothing more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/your-parents-are-your-projection-nothing-more/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [When a thought hurts, that’s the signal that it isn’t true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/when-a-thought-hurts-that-s-the-signal-that-it-isn-t-true/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [Since the past is unreal and the future is unreal, all your thoughts are about nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/since-the-past-is-unreal-and-the-future-is-unreal-all-your-thoughts/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [I used to sleep on the floor next to the bed, because I believed that I didn't even deserve a bed to sleep in.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/i-used-to-sleep-on-the-floor-next-to-the-bed-because-i-believed-that/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [You can never make yourself believe that you're loveable, however hard you try, because when the chips are down what you really believe rises…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/you-can-never-make-yourself-believe-that-you-re-loveable-however-hard/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [“Your story is your identity, and you’d do almost anything to prove that it’s true. Inquiry into self is the only thing that has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/your-story-is-your-identity-and-you-d-do-almost-anything-to-prove/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [It's not what happens in life that bothers us. It's what we're believing about it that bothers us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/it-s-not-what-happens-in-life-that-bothers-us-it-s-what-we-re/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [Love asks for nothing. Only personalities want something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/love-asks-for-nothing-only-personalities-want-something/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [I love what I think, and I'm never tempted to believe it. Thoughts are like the wind or the leaves on the trees or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/i-love-what-i-think-and-i-m-never-tempted-to-believe-it-thoughts-are/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [Reality doesn't wait for your opinion, vote, or permission, sweetheart. It just keeps being what it is and doing what it does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/reality-doesn-t-wait-for-your-opinion-vote-or-permission-sweetheart/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [As long as we believe our thoughts, there will always be war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/as-long-as-we-believe-our-thoughts-there-will-always-be-war/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [“Reality doesn’t wait for our agreement or approval. It is what it is. You can count on it. Gary:”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/reality-doesn-t-wait-for-our-agreement-or-approval-it-is-what-it-is/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [You can't drop concepts. You can only shine a little flashlight on them as you do inquiry, an you see that what you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/you-can-t-drop-concepts-you-can-only-shine-a-little-flashlight-on/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) [Explore all 480 Byron Katie quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) ## More Enlightened 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/) > [Enlightened people live in very charged states of attention, with a tremendous power circuiting through them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/enlightened-people-live-in-very-charged-states-of-attention-with-a/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Now the stage today is to know that Self Realization gives you experiences and then your faith is established. Not blind but open enlightened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmala-srivastava/now-the-stage-today-is-to-know-that-self-realization-gives-you/) [Nirmala Srivastava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmala-srivastava/) > [ “Through the grace of a thief, one can become a thief and through the grace of a Gnani \[the enlightened one\], one can become… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/through-the-grace-of-a-thief-one-can-become-a-thief-and-through-the/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [Our attitude towards evil must be freed from hatred, and has itself need to be enlightened in character...Satan rejoices when he succeeds in inspiring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikolai-berdyaev/our-attitude-towards-evil-must-be-freed-from-hatred-and-has-itself/) [Nikolai Berdyaev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikolai-berdyaev/) > [I think enlightenment is something that you decide to do after you have met someone who is enlightened. Something touches your heart, your being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/i-think-enlightenment-is-something-that-you-decide-to-do-after-you/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“The more that the human mind is enlightened, the more desirous it becomes of farther acquisitions in knowledge. The”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-stewart/the-more-that-the-human-mind-is-enlightened-the-more-desirous-it/) [Alexander Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-stewart/) > [The enlightened attention rejects nothing nor welcomes anything-like a mirror it responds equally to all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/the-enlightened-attention-rejects-nothing-nor-welcomes-anything-like/) [Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/) > [So too, monks, I saw the ancient path, the ancient road traveled by the Perfectly Enlightened Ones of the past. And what is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/so-too-monks-i-saw-the-ancient-path-the-ancient-road-traveled-by-the/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [We do not have to be ashamed of what we are. As sentient beings we have wonderful backgrounds. These backgrounds may not be particularly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/we-do-not-have-to-be-ashamed-of-what-we-are-as-sentient-beings-we/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [For I did not know that the soul needs to be enlightened by light from outside itself, so that it can participate in truth,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/for-i-did-not-know-that-the-soul-needs-to-be-enlightened-by-light/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [As a child there was no place for adventure or experimentation. I guess that kind of freedom started in high school with punk rock.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mcnairy/as-a-child-there-was-no-place-for-adventure-or-experimentation-i/) [Mark McNairy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mcnairy/) > [In dealing with those who share his bed, the enlightened ruler may enjoy their beauty but should not listen to their special pleas...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/han-fei/in-dealing-with-those-who-share-his-bed-the-enlightened-ruler-may/) [Han Fei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/han-fei/) > [“Even when you have been somewhat enlightened by what you have read, you are called upon to continue the serach for significance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-j-adler/even-when-you-have-been-somewhat-enlightened-by-what-you-have-read/) [Mortimer J. Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-j-adler/) > [I want to engage people in an honest, enlightened, and provocative conversation about the nature of erotic desire and the intricacies of intimacy and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-perel/i-want-to-engage-people-in-an-honest-enlightened-and-provocative/) [Esther Perel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-perel/) [Browse all 1,151 Enlightened quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enlightened/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If I say, if I talk about, 'I want to be enlightened...' it implies a future. 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