--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When life takes away the forms that you…" description: "\"When life takes away the forms that you thought were the foundation of your life, what's left? The life that needs no foundation - that is the foundati..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ed/eckhart-tolle-81_essence_when-life-takes-away-the-forms-that-you_1460305.jpg" --- # When life takes away the forms that you thought were the… ![“When life takes away the forms that you thought were the foundation of your life, what's left? The life that needs no foundation - that is the foundation. The formless. The essence.” quote by Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ed/eckhart-tolle-81_essence_when-life-takes-away-the-forms-that-you_1460305.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ed/eckhart-tolle-81_essence_when-life-takes-away-the-forms-that-you_1460305.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ed/eckhart-tolle-81_essence_when-life-takes-away-the-forms-that-you_1460305.jpg) > “When life takes away the forms that you thought were the foundation of your life, what's left? The life that needs no foundation - that is the foundation. The formless. The essence.” [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When external structures collapse, inner essence remains the true foundation **In simple terms:** Essence is foundationless and constant Key Takeaway Trust inner essence Themes philosophy mindfulness existence Mood calm contemplative Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - personal crisis - spiritual practice - therapy - creative work Key Concepts Non‑attachment self‑realization Questions to Reflect On - What remains when you lose external security? - How can you connect with your inner essence? A Different Perspective May overlook practical needs; can be abstract ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Essence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/essence/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ## Related quotes > [Each human needs to find his or her timeless and formless essence identity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/each-human-needs-to-find-his-or-her-timeless-and-formless-essence/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [There is one Cosmic Essence, all-pervading, all-knowing, all-powerful. This nameless formless essence can be approached by any name, any form, any symbol that suites…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-satchidananda/there-is-one-cosmic-essence-all-pervading-all-knowing-all-powerful/) [Swami Satchidananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-satchidananda/) > [Your primary purpose is to be here fully, and to be total in whatever you do so that the preciousness of the present moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/your-primary-purpose-is-to-be-here-fully-and-to-be-total-in-whatever/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [The foundation of your life is luck. Hard work and talent make up the difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lehane/the-foundation-of-your-life-is-luck-hard-work-and-talent-make-up-the/) [Dennis Lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/) > [Self care is foundation of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/self-care-is-foundation-of-life/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) > [“Family is the foundation of life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/family-is-the-foundation-of-life/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“Let the foundation of your life be inpiring so that you will never have to question who you are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelsey-erin/let-the-foundation-of-your-life-be-inpiring-so-that-you-will-never/) Kelsey Erin > [When you delight yourself in the Lord, His Word and His ways become the focus and foundation of your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-george/when-you-delight-yourself-in-the-lord-his-word-and-his-ways-become/) [Elizabeth George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-george/) > [You should never ever ever have somebody else who is the foundation of your life. You need to be the foundation of your own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trisha-goddard/you-should-never-ever-ever-have-somebody-else-who-is-the-foundation/) [Trisha Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trisha-goddard/) > [Just know that penis is foundation of life!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junior-d-r-l-testament/just-know-that-penis-is-foundation-of-life/) Junior Dè Rèál Testament > [The heart of animals is the foundation of their life, the sovereign of everything within them, the sun of their microcosm, that upon which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-harvey/the-heart-of-animals-is-the-foundation-of-their-life-the-sovereign-of/) [William Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-harvey/) > [A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/a-loving-atmosphere-in-your-home-is-the-foundation-for-your-life/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [Be sure of the foundation of your life. Know why you live as you do. Be ready to give a reason for it. Do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-starr-king/be-sure-of-the-foundation-of-your-life-know-why-you-live-as-you-do-be/) [Thomas Starr King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-starr-king/) > [Family is forever and the most important foundation in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-taekman/family-is-forever-and-the-most-important-foundation-in-life/) [Kristen Taekman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-taekman/) > [Since God is the foundation of my life, anything that streams from that can only be positive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ving-rhames/since-god-is-the-foundation-of-my-life-anything-that-streams-from/) [Ving Rhames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ving-rhames/) ## More by Eckhart Tolle > [“The voice in the head that never stops speaking becomes a civilization that is obsessed with form and therefore knows nothing of the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/the-voice-in-the-head-that-never-stops-speaking-becomes-a/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Thinking, or more precisely identification with thinking, gives rise to and maintains the ego, which, in our Western society in particular, is out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/thinking-or-more-precisely-identification-with-thinking-gives-rise-to/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [“A powerful spiritual practice is consciously to allow the diminishment of ego when it happens without attempting to restore it. I recommend that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/a-powerful-spiritual-practice-is-consciously-to-allow-the/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [To become aware of the subtlety of nature you need to be alert. The moment you become alert you become still... thinking subsides. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/to-become-aware-of-the-subtlety-of-nature-you-need-to-be-alert-the/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [When you are not honoring the present moment by allowing it to be, you are creating drama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/when-you-are-not-honoring-the-present-moment-by-allowing-it-to-be-you/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [On a deeper level you are already complete. When you realize that, there is a joyous energy behind what you do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/on-a-deeper-level-you-are-already-complete-when-you-realize-that/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Life will give you whatever experience is most helpful for the evolution of your consciousness. How do you know this is the experience you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/life-will-give-you-whatever-experience-is-most-helpful-for-the/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [You may not yet be able to bring your unconscious mind activity into awareness as thoughts, but it will always be reflected in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/you-may-not-yet-be-able-to-bring-your-unconscious-mind-activity-into/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [“War is a mind-set, and all action that comes out of such a mind-set will either strengthen the enemy, the perceived evil, or, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/war-is-a-mind-set-and-all-action-that-comes-out-of-such-a-mind-set/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Whenever you step out of the noise of thinking, that is meditation, and a different state of consciousness arises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/whenever-you-step-out-of-the-noise-of-thinking-that-is-meditation-and/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Get the inside right, and the outside will take care of itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/get-the-inside-right-and-the-outside-will-take-care-of-itself/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [It is very hard to tell when I started to be a spiritual teacher. There was a time when occasionally somebody would come and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/it-is-very-hard-to-tell-when-i-started-to-be-a-spiritual-teacher/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Most people spend their entire life imprisoned within the confines of their own thoughts. They never go beyond a narrow, mind-made, personalized sense of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/most-people-spend-their-entire-life-imprisoned-within-the-confines-of/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Let the end of the world be inside you, then you don't need to fear the end of the world out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/let-the-end-of-the-world-be-inside-you-then-you-don-t-need-to-fear/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [“Jeste li zabrinuti? Razmišljate li često: »Što bi bilo da sam...?« To znači da ste se poistovjetili s umom, koji se projicira u neku…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/jeste-li-zabrinuti-razmi-ljate-li-esto-to-bi-bilo-da-sam-to-zna-i-da/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) [Explore all 1,493 Eckhart Tolle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) ## More Essence quotes > [“THE ESSENCE OF YOUR DESIRE IS A FEELING”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-laporte/the-essence-of-your-desire-is-a-feeling/) [Danielle LaPorte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-laporte/) > [Everything in dancing is style, allusion, the essence of many thoughts and feelings. The abstraction of many moments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-ailey/everything-in-dancing-is-style-allusion-the-essence-of-many-thoughts/) [Alvin Ailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-ailey/) > [Spiritually, life is a festival, a celebration. Joy is of the essence of life;](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnivesh/spiritually-life-is-a-festival-a-celebration-joy-is-of-the-essence-of/) [Agnivesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnivesh/) > [When you approach something to photograph it, first be still with yourself until the object of your attention affirms your presence. Then don't leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minor-white/when-you-approach-something-to-photograph-it-first-be-still-with/) [Minor White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minor-white/) > [It's all the unwordable things one wants to write about, just as it's all the unformable things one wants to paint - essence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-carr/it-s-all-the-unwordable-things-one-wants-to-write-about-just-as-it-s/) [Emily Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-carr/) > [In essence, I see the value of journalism as resting in a twofold mission: informing the public of accurate and vital information, and its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/in-essence-i-see-the-value-of-journalism-as-resting-in-a-twofold/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [Curiosity is the essence of human existence. 'Who are we? Where are we? Where do we come from? Where are we going?'... I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/curiosity-is-the-essence-of-human-existence-who-are-we-where-are-we/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The essence of worldliness is exclusion of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-jacobsen/the-essence-of-worldliness-is-exclusion-of-god/) [Henry Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-jacobsen/) > [I am alive. Up here with the song of the engine and the air whispering on my face as the sunlight and shadows play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-coonts/i-am-alive-up-here-with-the-song-of-the-engine-and-the-air-whispering/) [Stephen Coonts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-coonts/) > [The essence of Christianity...is an ever-new encounter with... the God who speaks to us, who approaches us and who befriends us!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/the-essence-of-christianity-is-an-ever-new-encounter-with-the-god-who/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [The wisdom or the essence of Guru Tattwa is a balance. Like when you maintain a plant, if you do not give it water…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmala-srivastava/the-wisdom-or-the-essence-of-guru-tattwa-is-a-balance-like-when-you/) [Nirmala Srivastava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmala-srivastava/) > [This is the pathless path - returning to where you were initially before you got lost. The deepest truth in you is where the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/this-is-the-pathless-path-returning-to-where-you-were-initially/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [Communism... is the genuine resolution of the antagonism between man and nature and between man and man; it is the true resolution of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/communism-is-the-genuine-resolution-of-the-antagonism-between-man-and/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [I'm not so much in the future as always in the present. The future always takes care of itself. What I do now with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-mekas/i-m-not-so-much-in-the-future-as-always-in-the-present-the-future/) [Jonas Mekas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-mekas/) > [The essence of the stage is concentration and penetration. Of the screen action, movement, sweep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/the-essence-of-the-stage-is-concentration-and-penetration-of-the/) [Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/) [Browse all 3,115 Essence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/essence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When life takes away the forms that you thought were the foundation of your life, what's left? The life that needs no foundation - that is the foundation. The formless. 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