--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is a close relationship between a…" description: "\"There is a close relationship between a house full of possessions and a heart full of desires, between a cluttered closet and a crowded schedule, betwe..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/646/eknath-easwaran-7274_attention_there-is-a-close-relationship-between-a_2834522.jpg" --- # There is a close relationship between a house full of… ![“There is a close relationship between a house full of possessions and a heart full of desires, between a cluttered closet and a crowded schedule, between having no place to put possessions and having no priorities for our life. These are precious clues. They remind us to slow down, to live in the…” quote by Eknath Easwaran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/646/eknath-easwaran-7274_attention_there-is-a-close-relationship-between-a_2834522.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/646/eknath-easwaran-7274_attention_there-is-a-close-relationship-between-a_2834522.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/646/eknath-easwaran-7274_attention_there-is-a-close-relationship-between-a_2834522.jpg) > “There is a close relationship between a house full of possessions and a heart full of desires, between a cluttered closet and a crowded schedule, between having no place to put possessions and having no priorities for our life. These are precious clues. They remind us to slow down, to live in the present, to reduce the desires that drain our vitality, to clarify priorities so we can give our time and attention to what matters most. Tragically, in the press of modern life, we have managed to get backwards one of life's most vital truths: people are to be loved; things are to be used.” [Eknath Easwaran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eknath-easwaran/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Physical clutter mirrors mental clutter; excess possessions reflect unexamined desires, leading to a hectic schedule and loss of focus on what truly matters. **In simple terms:** Clutter shows misplaced priorities. Key Takeaway Simplify possessions and clarify priorities. Themes minimalism mindfulness priorities well‑being Mood reflective calm inspirational Type advice philosophical motivational When to use this quote - home organization - time management - digital declutter - personal budgeting - mindful meditation Key Concepts attachment materialism intentional living Questions to Reflect On - What possessions truly serve your purpose? - How can you redesign your schedule to honor your priorities? A Different Perspective Reducing clutter may be emotionally challenging and requires confronting underlying desires. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) [Backwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/backwards/) [Close relationship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/close-relationship/) [Closets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/closets/) [Clue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clue/) [Crowded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crowded/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Desires Cluttered](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desires-cluttered-3682185/) [Drains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drains/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/house/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Live in the present](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-in-the-present/) [Live life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-life/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Modern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modern/) [Modern life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modern-life/) [Most meaningful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/most-meaningful/) [Our lives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-lives/) [Our time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-time/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Place Possessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/place-possessions-3682186/) [Possession](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possession/) [Possessions Having](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possessions-having-2769629/) [Possessions Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possessions-heart-3682184/) [Presses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/presses/) [Pressured](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pressured/) [Priorities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/priorities/) [Reduce Desires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reduce-desires-3682187/) [Relationship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relationship/) [Schedules](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/schedules/) [Slow down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slow-down/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used/) [Vitality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vitality/) [What matters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/what-matters/) ## Related quotes > [“As she placed her stil-beating heart in the hole she'd dug, there on it's surface another golden fleck swirled into existence. 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If you want happiness for a lifetime, help someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/if-you-want-happiness-for-a-year-inherit-a-fortune-if-you-want/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [The things that matter most in life…Aren't things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-avgeropoulos/the-things-that-matter-most-in-life-aren-t-things/) [Marie Avgeropoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-avgeropoulos/) > [As a friend of mine, herself a writer, says, 'People who spend the most meaningful hours of their lives in the exclusive company of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-block/as-a-friend-of-mine-herself-a-writer-says-people-who-spend-the-most/) [Lawrence Block](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-block/) > [When you are not sure on what to do, choose a life that is most meaningful to you and make it a habit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-zahara/when-you-are-not-sure-on-what-to-do-choose-a-life-that-is-most/) [Rita Zahara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-zahara/) > [The richest most meaningful stories are found in small places: made, carried, crafted, told, and retold by apparently unimportant people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-brown/the-richest-most-meaningful-stories-are-found-in-small-places-made/) [Louise Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-brown/) > [When we seek for connection, we restore the world to wholeness. 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I'm going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eknath-easwaran/don-t-think-the-purpose-of-meditation-is-to-go-deep-into/) [Eknath Easwaran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eknath-easwaran/) > [Meditation may require a lifetime to master, but it will have been a lifetime well spent. ... If you want to judge your progress,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eknath-easwaran/meditation-may-require-a-lifetime-to-master-but-it-will-have-been-a/) [Eknath Easwaran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eknath-easwaran/) > [“Meditation is the basis of a life of splendid health, untiring energy, unfailing love, and abiding wisdom. It is the very foundation of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eknath-easwaran/meditation-is-the-basis-of-a-life-of-splendid-health-untiring-energy/) [Eknath Easwaran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eknath-easwaran/) > [Love is so exquisitely elusive. It cannot be bought, cannot be badgered, cannot be hijacked. It is available only in one rare form: as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eknath-easwaran/love-is-so-exquisitely-elusive-it-cannot-be-bought-cannot-be-badgered/) [Eknath Easwaran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eknath-easwaran/) > [Meditation is warm-up exercise for the mind, so that you can jog through the rest of the day without getting agitated or spraining your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eknath-easwaran/meditation-is-warm-up-exercise-for-the-mind-so-that-you-can-jog/) [Eknath Easwaran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eknath-easwaran/) > [By removing that which is petty and self-seeking, we bring forth all that is glorious and mindful of the whole.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eknath-easwaran/by-removing-that-which-is-petty-and-self-seeking-we-bring-forth-all/) [Eknath Easwaran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eknath-easwaran/) > [As we get deeper, we move closer and closer to other people; we feel closer to life as a whole.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eknath-easwaran/as-we-get-deeper-we-move-closer-and-closer-to-other-people-we-feel/) [Eknath Easwaran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eknath-easwaran/) > [To be secure everywhere is the mark of sophistication, to be unshakable is the mark of courage, to be permanently in love with every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eknath-easwaran/to-be-secure-everywhere-is-the-mark-of-sophistication-to-be/) [Eknath Easwaran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eknath-easwaran/) > [When the mind is still, we can become an instrument of peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eknath-easwaran/when-the-mind-is-still-we-can-become-an-instrument-of-peace/) [Eknath Easwaran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eknath-easwaran/) > [It is not action or effort that we must surrender; it is self-will, and this is terribly difficult. 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Why should we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eknath-easwaran/we-expect-professional-and-financial-success-to-require-time-and/) [eknath easwaran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eknath-easwaran/) [Explore all 93 Eknath Easwaran quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eknath-easwaran/) ## More Attention quotes > [It appears to me that one great cause of our difference in opinion on subjects which we often discuss is that you have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/it-appears-to-me-that-one-great-cause-of-our-difference-in-opinion-on/) [David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/) > [People pay far too much attention to the television and they're quite literal in some ways. At the beginning, when I was playing very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ardal-o-hanlon/people-pay-far-too-much-attention-to-the-television-and-they-re-quite/) [Ardal O'Hanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ardal-o-hanlon/) > [Television, radio, social media. 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They are but improved means to an unimproved end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/our-inventions-are-wont-to-be-pretty-toys-which-distract-our/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [What people don't normally know about us is the hustle is very real, and it's sorely driven a lot by how we consider ourselves.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lzzy-hale/what-people-don-t-normally-know-about-us-is-the-hustle-is-very-real/) [Lzzy Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lzzy-hale/) > [For me, the term "psychotherapy" is limiting. It implies that we work with mind and emotions, but excludes the body and pays scant attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jed-diamond/for-me-the-term-psychotherapy-is-limiting-it-implies-that-we-work/) [Jed Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jed-diamond/) > [When you approach something to photograph it, first be still with yourself until the object of your attention affirms your presence. 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And we we went to this mosque in Philly, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/i-went-to-a-mosque-in-philadelphia-with-my-wife-in-december-24-1999/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [The Harvard Business Review recently had an article called 'The Human Moment,' about how to make real contact with a person at work: ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-goleman/the-harvard-business-review-recently-had-an-article-called-the-human/) [Daniel Goleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-goleman/) > [Let us thank God heartily as often as we pray that we have His Spirit in us to teach us to pray. Thanksgiving will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-murray/let-us-thank-god-heartily-as-often-as-we-pray-that-we-have-his-spirit/) [Andy Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-murray/) > [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/) > [We must have a welfare system that we can afford, which will mean giving greater attention to directing the welfare program toward its primary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-portillo/we-must-have-a-welfare-system-that-we-can-afford-which-will-mean/) [Michael Portillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-portillo/) > [The director's job should give you a sense of music without drawing attention to itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hackford/the-director-s-job-should-give-you-a-sense-of-music-without-drawing/) [Taylor Hackford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hackford/) [Browse all 10,153 Attention quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attention/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There is a close relationship between a house full of possessions and a heart full of desires, between a cluttered closet and a crowded schedule, between having no place to put possessions and having no priorities for our life. 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