--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The great alchemist and Taoist sage Lu…" description: "\"“The great alchemist and Taoist sage Lu Tung-pin wrote: Although the span of human life is finite, the spirit is infinite. If we view the universe in t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e48/daniel-reid-24741_human-life_the-great-alchemist-and-taoist-sage-lu-t_456134.jpg" --- # The great alchemist and Taoist sage Lu Tung-pin wrote… ![“The great alchemist and Taoist sage Lu Tung-pin wrote: Although the span of human life is finite, the spirit is infinite. If we view the universe in terms of our human life span, then our lives seem as brief and fleeting as those of flies. But if we look at the universe in terms of our spirits…” quote by Daniel Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e48/daniel-reid-24741_human-life_the-great-alchemist-and-taoist-sage-lu-t_456134.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e48/daniel-reid-24741_human-life_the-great-alchemist-and-taoist-sage-lu-t_456134.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e48/daniel-reid-24741_human-life_the-great-alchemist-and-taoist-sage-lu-t_456134.jpg) > ““The great alchemist and Taoist sage Lu Tung-pin wrote: Although the span of human life is finite, the spirit is infinite. If we view the universe in terms of our human life span, then our lives seem as brief and fleeting as those of flies. But if we look at the universe in terms of our spirits, then the universe appears as finite as the life of a fly.”” [Daniel Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-reid/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life is brief when measured by human years, but the spirit’s eternity makes the universe feel finite, flipping perspective on mortality. **In simple terms:** Human life is short; spirit is endless, changing how we see the universe. Key Takeaway Contemplate the timeless nature of spirit versus fleeting life. Themes mortality spirituality perspective Mood thoughtful contemplative Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal reflection - philosophical discussion - spiritual practice Key Concepts finite life infinite spirit cosmic view Questions to Reflect On - How does this view affect daily choices? - Can spirit be truly infinite? A Different Perspective The idea may overlook material realities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Human life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-life/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life span](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-span/) ## Related quotes > [He who knows his soul knows this truth: " I am beyond everything finite; I I now see that the Spirit, alone in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/he-who-knows-his-soul-knows-this-truth-i-am-beyond-everything-finite/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [“(…) everything is finite. Life. Love. All this.' (…) 'Sadness too. Although that's harder to let go of than happiness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-beukes/everything-is-finite-life-love-all-this-sadness-too-although-that-s/) [Lauren Beukes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-beukes/) > [I can pretty much say all of us know when 'Downton' is going to end. This is a show with a finite life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-coyle/i-can-pretty-much-say-all-of-us-know-when-downton-is-going-to-end/) [Brendan Coyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-coyle/) > [I have to go. I have a finite amount of life left and I don't want to spend it arguing with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-armintrout/i-have-to-go-i-have-a-finite-amount-of-life-left-and-i-don-t-want-to/) [Jennifer Armintrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-armintrout/) > [Dog love is not the special realm of childhood or of boyhood, no matter what the movies keep telling us. It is highly significant,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjorie-garber/dog-love-is-not-the-special-realm-of-childhood-or-of-boyhood-no/) [Marjorie Garber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjorie-garber/) > [It's more enjoyable for me to know that life is finite. Knowing that, I would like to go to a party.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/it-s-more-enjoyable-for-me-to-know-that-life-is-finite-knowing-that-i/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [“Everything wants to be remembered, chronicled, documented: everything - all of this and all the rest, because your life is neither a finite length…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-jeffers/everything-wants-to-be-remembered-chronicled-documented-everything/) Alex Jeffers > [“Your perspective of life may be a finite one, but you are neither finite nor limited! Refuse to live with guilt or regret. Refuse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-dsouza/your-perspective-of-life-may-be-a-finite-one-but-you-are-neither/) [Patricia Dsouza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-dsouza/) > [If I just got up in the morning and had no place to go and was retired or something, I would be sitting there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/if-i-just-got-up-in-the-morning-and-had-no-place-to-go-and-was/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [“Her life was as finite as the earth, but her love reaches beyond the stars.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-st-giles/her-life-was-as-finite-as-the-earth-but-her-love-reaches-beyond-the/) Jennifer St. Giles > [The experience of life in a finite, limited body is specifically for the purpose of discovering and manifesting supernatural existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pythagoras/the-experience-of-life-in-a-finite-limited-body-is-specifically-for/) [Pythagoras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pythagoras/) > [Every life is finite, Will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/every-life-is-finite-will/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [It's more enjoyable for me to know that life is finite. Knowing that, I would like to go to a party. When you get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/it-s-more-enjoyable-for-me-to-know-that-life-is-finite-knowing-that-i-2/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [“In our life there is one side which is finite and another side which is infinite. I want you to think about both the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-ray/in-our-life-there-is-one-side-which-is-finite-and-another-side-which/) [Amit Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-ray/) > [There's something about knowing life is finite that makes it so precious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethan-hawke/there-s-something-about-knowing-life-is-finite-that-makes-it-so/) [Ethan Hawke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethan-hawke/) ## More by Daniel Reid > [“As for osteoporosis, it is caused not so much by calcium deficiency in the diet as it is by dietary factors which leach calcium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-reid/as-for-osteoporosis-it-is-caused-not-so-much-by-calcium-deficiency-in/) [Daniel Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-reid/) > [“In true, Taoist parlance, 'immortality' refers to a spiritual state, not a condition of physical permanence. In his books on the teachings of Don…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-reid/in-true-taoist-parlance-immortality-refers-to-a-spiritual-state-not-a/) [Daniel Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-reid/) > [“Food enzymes are another important dietary element for cultivating vitality. The richer the enzyme content of food (such as raw and fermented foods), the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-reid/food-enzymes-are-another-important-dietary-element-for-cultivating/) [Daniel Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-reid/) > [“The best choice in domestic meat is lamb. Sheep generally graze on open ranges, out in the sun and fresh air, and they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-reid/the-best-choice-in-domestic-meat-is-lamb-sheep-generally-graze-on/) [Daniel Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-reid/) > [“Vitality manifests itself on the level of spirit as jing-shen ('essence-spirit'), which may be cultivated by the practice of meditation. In Taoist meditation, sexual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-reid/vitality-manifests-itself-on-the-level-of-spirit-as-jing-shen-essence/) [Daniel Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-reid/) > [“On the fundamental level of essence, diet, nutrition, and tonic herbs have the most direct influence on vitality. The most important nutritional factors are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-reid/on-the-fundamental-level-of-essence-diet-nutrition-and-tonic-herbs/) [Daniel Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-reid/) > [“Red meat should always be consumed as rare as possible, and preferably with horseradish or strong mustard, which stimulates the liver and gall bladder…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-reid/red-meat-should-always-be-consumed-as-rare-as-possible-and-preferably/) [Daniel Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-reid/) > [“Cow's milk has four times the protein and only half the carbohydrate content of human milk; pasteurization destroys the natural enzyme in cow's milk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-reid/cow-s-milk-has-four-times-the-protein-and-only-half-the-carbohydrate/) [Daniel Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-reid/) > [“Spiritual masters claim that the insights obtained from the 'original mind' in deep meditation cannot be conveyed in terms of rational thought and language,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-reid/spiritual-masters-claim-that-the-insights-obtained-from-the-original/) [Daniel Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-reid/) > [“For different reasons, pork is also a poor choice in meat. Owing to the pig's omnivorous diet, pork is even more acidifying than other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-reid/for-different-reasons-pork-is-also-a-poor-choice-in-meat-owing-to-the/) [Daniel Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-reid/) > [“The original mind of Tao is like an immaculately clean mirror, clearly reflecting everything towards which it turns its attention. The human mind, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-reid/the-original-mind-of-tao-is-like-an-immaculately-clean-mirror-clearly/) [Daniel Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-reid/) > [“Viewed from the Taoist paradigm, the utter emptiness of space is a state known as 'extreme yin'. Taoist texts state; 'When yin reaches its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-reid/viewed-from-the-taoist-paradigm-the-utter-emptiness-of-space-is-a/) [Daniel Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-reid/) > [“Tap water is another example of a legally condoned public health hazard. As early as the Han dynasty (206 BC-AD 220) in China, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-reid/tap-water-is-another-example-of-a-legally-condoned-public-health/) [Daniel Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-reid/) > [“Commercially raised chickens are also kept confined in cages and fed on denatured feed contaminated with antibiotics, hormones, and pesticides. Chinese physicians have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-reid/commercially-raised-chickens-are-also-kept-confined-in-cages-and-fed/) [Daniel Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-reid/) > [“Most human disease and degeneration are caused by adverse external and internal energies created by noxious environmental conditions and extreme emotions, which lower resistance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-reid/most-human-disease-and-degeneration-are-caused-by-adverse-external/) [Daniel Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-reid/) [Explore all 24 Daniel Reid quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-reid/) ## More Human life quotes > [Entertainment is a sacred pursuit when done well. When done well, it raises the quality of human life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-chabon/entertainment-is-a-sacred-pursuit-when-done-well-when-done-well-it/) [Michael Chabon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-chabon/) > [“Conception is the beginning of human life. From the time that an ovum is fertilized a new life begins that is neither that of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declaration-on-procured-abortion-congregation-for-the-doctrine-of-the-faith-1974/conception-is-the-beginning-of-human-life-from-the-time-that-an-ovum/) Declaration on Procured Abortion Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith 1974 > [To hurry through the rise and fall of a fine, full sentence is like defying the role of time in human life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-clark/to-hurry-through-the-rise-and-fall-of-a-fine-full-sentence-is-like/) [Kenneth Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-clark/) > [Half the misery of human life might be extinguished if men would alleviate the general curse they lie under by mutual offices of compassion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/half-the-misery-of-human-life-might-be-extinguished-if-men-would/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [Art is not a pleasure, a solace, or an amusement; art is great matter. Art is an organ of human life, transmitting man's reasonable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/art-is-not-a-pleasure-a-solace-or-an-amusement-art-is-great-matter/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I free slaves because I believe we are all created equal. I just can't think of anything that has a higher purpose than putting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-williams/i-free-slaves-because-i-believe-we-are-all-created-equal-i-just-can-t/) [Virginia Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-williams/) > [Human life consists of doing certain things ... to take part in the life of the community; to be able to talk about subjects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amartya-sen/human-life-consists-of-doing-certain-things-to-take-part-in-the-life/) [Amartya Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amartya-sen/) > [There seems to be a kind of order in the universe…in the movement of the stars and the turning of the Earth and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-anne-porter/there-seems-to-be-a-kind-of-order-in-the-universe-in-the-movement-of/) [Katherine Anne Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-anne-porter/) > [I think we are not spend our life as it pick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ankit-narwal/i-think-we-are-not-spend-our-life-as-it-pick/) ANKIT NARWAL > [“Whenever I think about ancient cultures nostalgia seizes me. Perhaps this is nothing but envy of the sweet slowness of the history of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/whenever-i-think-about-ancient-cultures-nostalgia-seizes-me-perhaps/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [To all conservative women out there: If you are so sure the embryo needed for stem cell research are precious human life that can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/to-all-conservative-women-out-there-if-you-are-so-sure-the-embryo/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [Anyone who thinks science is trying to make human life easier or more pleasant is utterly mistaken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/anyone-who-thinks-science-is-trying-to-make-human-life-easier-or-more/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Human life is created in God's image, and that makes it sacred.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-s-smith/human-life-is-created-in-god-s-image-and-that-makes-it-sacred/) [Colin S. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-s-smith/) > [“You finally fell in love, I see,” said Salo. “Only an Earthling year ago,” said Constant. “It took us that long to realize that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/you-finally-fell-in-love-i-see-said-salo-only-an-earthling-year-ago/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [In these years we are witnessing the gigantic spectacle of innumerable human lives wandering about lost in their own labyrinths, through not having anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ortega-y-gasset/in-these-years-we-are-witnessing-the-gigantic-spectacle-of/) [Jose Ortega y Gasset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ortega-y-gasset/) [Browse all 2,309 Human life quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-life/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The great alchemist and Taoist sage Lu Tung-pin wrote: Although the span of human life is finite, the spirit is infinite. If we view the universe in terms of our human life span, then our lives seem as brief and fleeting as those of flies. But if we look at the universe in terms of our spirits, then the universe appears as finite as the life of a fly.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Daniel Reid" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-reid/the-great-alchemist-and-taoist-sage-lu-tung-pin-wrote-although-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Human life" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-reid/the-great-alchemist-and-taoist-sage-lu-tung-pin-wrote-although-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e48/daniel-reid-24741_human-life_the-great-alchemist-and-taoist-sage-lu-t_456134.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e48/daniel-reid-24741_human-life_the-great-alchemist-and-taoist-sage-lu-t_456134.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e48/daniel-reid-24741_human-life_the-great-alchemist-and-taoist-sage-lu-t_456134.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The great alchemist and Taoist sage Lu Tung-pin wrote: Although the span of human life is finite, the spirit…” — Daniel Reid", "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": "Daniel Reid", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-reid/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The great alchemist and Taoist sage...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-reid/the-great-alchemist-and-taoist-sage-lu-tung-pin-wrote-although-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-reid/the-great-alchemist-and-taoist-sage-lu-tung-pin-wrote-although-the/#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 } } ] } ```