--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Very often, in order to bring about…" description: "\"Very often, in order to bring about stillness we have to be tirelessly active in the outer world. You might suppose this would agitate the mind. It wil..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b02/frederick-lenz-8_active_very-often-in-order-to-bring-about-still_2811137.jpg" --- # Very often, in order to bring about stillness we have to… ![“Very often, in order to bring about stillness we have to be tirelessly active in the outer world. You might suppose this would agitate the mind. It will not, if it is the dharma.” quote by Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b02/frederick-lenz-8_active_very-often-in-order-to-bring-about-still_2811137.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b02/frederick-lenz-8_active_very-often-in-order-to-bring-about-still_2811137.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b02/frederick-lenz-8_active_very-often-in-order-to-bring-about-still_2811137.jpg) > “Very often, in order to bring about stillness we have to be tirelessly active in the outer world. You might suppose this would agitate the mind. It will not, if it is the dharma.” [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Active engagement in the world can create inner stillness when aligned with true purpose. **In simple terms:** Being busy for the right reasons calms the mind. Key Takeaway Align action with purpose to find peace. Themes mindfulness activity inner peace Mood contemplative balanced Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - work projects - volunteering - creative pursuits Key Concepts dharma purpose non-attachment Questions to Reflect On - Are your daily tasks serving your deeper values? - How does purposeful activity differ from mindless busyness? A Different Perspective If actions are misaligned, they may increase agitation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Active](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/active/) [Agitate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agitate/) [Bring Stillness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bring-stillness-560183/) [Buddhism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhism/) [Dharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dharma/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Mind Dharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind-dharma-3425833/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Outer worlds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/outer-worlds/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Serenity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/serenity/) [Stillness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stillness/) [Stillness Tirelessly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stillness-tirelessly-3520356/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“TURNING YOUR MIND toward the dharma does not bring security or confirmation. Turning your mind toward the dharma does not bring any ground to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/turning-your-mind-toward-the-dharma-does-not-bring-security-or/) [Pema Chödrön](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [Look for the things in your life that bring you stillness and happiness, not the things that make you crazy. Look inside yourself and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/look-for-the-things-in-your-life-that-bring-you-stillness-and/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Meditation is a time to focus, train the mind, and bring it to stillness. It is not a time to rest and relax.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-main/meditation-is-a-time-to-focus-train-the-mind-and-bring-it-to/) [Darren Main](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-main/) > [“Buddha is Mind itself. Mind itself is Dharma. Buddha is identical with Dharma. So is Samgha.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/buddha-is-mind-itself-mind-itself-is-dharma-buddha-is-identical-with/) [Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/) > [In the beginning, when you are meditating, just ignore thought. Shine it on. Then after you are comfortable sitting there, try selectively eliminating negative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/in-the-beginning-when-you-are-meditating-just-ignore-thought-shine-it/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Illumination in the outer world is to be happy no matter what is going on. In the inner world, it's more ineffable. It's harder…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/illumination-in-the-outer-world-is-to-be-happy-no-matter-what-is/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [A way of spreading the dharma is just telling people, sharing with them your experiences. Never push it, never be a missionary. Be completely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/a-way-of-spreading-the-dharma-is-just-telling-people-sharing-with/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [It is acceptance of the will of God - waiting, if necessary, forever, happily rising above your desires and above your frustrations to always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/it-is-acceptance-of-the-will-of-god-waiting-if-necessary-forever/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Everything knows what is best for itself. That is what the Sanskrit word dharma means. Dharma means the best of all possible actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/everything-knows-what-is-best-for-itself-that-is-what-the-sanskrit/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Dharma is the Truth that all of existence is. It does not disagree with anything. It is the perception of existence in its purest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/dharma-is-the-truth-that-all-of-existence-is-it-does-not-disagree/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Eternity gives life to all and sustains all, transforms all on the wheel of dharma - until all attain perfection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/eternity-gives-life-to-all-and-sustains-all-transforms-all-on-the/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Success is not success in an individual endeavor. Success is simply to practice the dharma impeccably.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/success-is-not-success-in-an-individual-endeavor-success-is-simply-to/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Dharma is another name for existence. It is existence in its purest form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/dharma-is-another-name-for-existence-it-is-existence-in-its-purest/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [When you understand dharma, when you see its perfect perfection, shining both in and beyond all things, you will be freed from all misunderstandings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/when-you-understand-dharma-when-you-see-its-perfect-perfection/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Naturally, to follow dharma, we have to find out what it is. You have to struggle with it. The answer will not come easily.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/naturally-to-follow-dharma-we-have-to-find-out-what-it-is-you-have-to/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) ## More by Frederick Lenz > [There are places that are very draining. 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Only alone can you feel the transcendental light. It is not a shared experience because if it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/only-alone-can-you-go-into-eternity-only-alone-can-you-feel-the/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [The sound man, immune as to a sacrifice of straw dogs, faces the passing human generations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-sound-man-immune-as-to-a-sacrifice-of-straw-dogs-faces-the/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Karma means changing planes of reality or changing fields of attention. 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They are on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/everybody-here-is-so-caught-up-in-the-game-of-life-they-don-t-see/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) [Explore all 4,399 Frederick Lenz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) ## More Active quotes > [Listening is a very active awareness of the coming together of at least two lives. 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