--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As a water bead on a lotus leaf, as water…" description: "\"As a water bead on a lotus leaf, as water on a red lily, does not adhere, so the sage does not adhere to the seen, the heard, or the sensed.\" — Gautama..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31e/gautama-buddha-163_beads_as-a-water-bead-on-a-lotus-leaf-as-water_1574991.jpg" --- # As a water bead on a lotus leaf, as water on a red lily… ![“As a water bead on a lotus leaf, as water on a red lily, does not adhere, so the sage does not adhere to the seen, the heard, or the sensed.” quote by Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31e/gautama-buddha-163_beads_as-a-water-bead-on-a-lotus-leaf-as-water_1574991.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31e/gautama-buddha-163_beads_as-a-water-bead-on-a-lotus-leaf-as-water_1574991.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31e/gautama-buddha-163_beads_as-a-water-bead-on-a-lotus-leaf-as-water_1574991.jpg) > “As a water bead on a lotus leaf, as water on a red lily, does not adhere, so the sage does not adhere to the seen, the heard, or the sensed.” [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Uses water imagery to illustrate non‑attachment to sensory experiences. **In simple terms:** Do not cling to what you see, hear, or feel. Key Takeaway Practice detachment from fleeting sensations. Themes mindfulness non‑attachment philosophy Mood contemplative serene Type spiritual philosophical When to use this quote - meditation retreats - daily mindfulness - stress management Key Concepts Buddhist doctrine impermanence inner peace Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance awareness and detachment? - What senses dominate your thoughts? A Different Perspective Over‑detachment can lead to emotional numbness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Buddhist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhist/) [Lilies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lilies/) [Lotuses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lotuses/) [Red](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/red/) [Sage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sage/) [Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water/) ## Related quotes > [A man ought to live in this world like a lotus leaf, which grows in water but is never moistened by water; so a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/a-man-ought-to-live-in-this-world-like-a-lotus-leaf-which-grows-in/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Droplets of water would roll around the surface of a lotus leaf and not leave any trace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhou-qunfei/droplets-of-water-would-roll-around-the-surface-of-a-lotus-leaf-and/) [Zhou Qunfei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhou-qunfei/) > [Cut out the love of self, like an autumn lotus with thy hand!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/cut-out-the-love-of-self-like-an-autumn-lotus-with-thy-hand/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [But when one masters this wretched desire, which is so hard to overcome, then one's sorrows just drop off, like a drop of water…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/but-when-one-masters-this-wretched-desire-which-is-so-hard-to/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [If you sleep, Desire grows in you Like a vine in the forest. Like a monkey in the forest You jump from tree to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/if-you-sleep-desire-grows-in-you-like-a-vine-in-the-forest-like-a/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Sandalwood, tagara, lotus, jasmine - the fragrance of virtue is unrivalled by such kinds of perfume.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/sandalwood-tagara-lotus-jasmine-the-fragrance-of-virtue-is-unrivalled/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [May we live like the lotus, at home in muddy water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/may-we-live-like-the-lotus-at-home-in-muddy-water/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Water surrounds the lotus flower, but does not wet its petals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/water-surrounds-the-lotus-flower-but-does-not-wet-its-petals/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [The one who wanders independent in the world, free from opinions and viewpoints, does not grasp them and enter into disputations and arguments. As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/the-one-who-wanders-independent-in-the-world-free-from-opinions-and/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [When one, abandoning greed, feels no greed for what would merit greed, greed gets shed from him - like a drop of water from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/when-one-abandoning-greed-feels-no-greed-for-what-would-merit-greed/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [In Savasana or in meditation, the light of the eyes is drawn towards the lotus of the heart, so that the seat of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-k-s-iyengar/in-savasana-or-in-meditation-the-light-of-the-eyes-is-drawn-towards/) [B.K.S. Iyengar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-k-s-iyengar/) > [Lotus-land as it appears in 'Free Will' is simply a metaphor for an idealized background, a 'land of milk and honey.' It is sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-peart/lotus-land-as-it-appears-in-free-will-is-simply-a-metaphor-for-an/) [Neil Peart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-peart/) > [YOU are the big drop of dew under the lotus leaf, I am the smaller one on its upper side,' said the dewdrop to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/you-are-the-big-drop-of-dew-under-the-lotus-leaf-i-am-the-smaller-one/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [I'm influenced by the music of the '60s. It's a mishmash of everything. To me, psychedelic can be all the way to a DJ.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-newcombe/i-m-influenced-by-the-music-of-the-60s-it-s-a-mishmash-of-everything/) [Anton Newcombe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-newcombe/) > [One thing is certain: you can never become anything other than yourself, and unless you become yourself you cannot be happy. Happiness happens only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/one-thing-is-certain-you-can-never-become-anything-other-than/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) ## More by Gautama Buddha > [Before you've seen it, and when you first see it, it is the greatest thing; afterwards, it is ordinary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/before-you-ve-seen-it-and-when-you-first-see-it-it-is-the-greatest/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [One of his students asked Buddha, "Are you the Messiah?" "No," answered Buddha. "Then are you a healer?" "No," Buddha replied. "Then are you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/one-of-his-students-asked-buddha-are-you-the-messiah-no-answered/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Give thanks for what had been given to you, However little. Be pure, never falter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/give-thanks-for-what-had-been-given-to-you-however-little-be-pure/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [For fear of causing terror to living beings, Mahamati, let the Bodhisattva who is disciplining himself to attain compassion, refrain from eating flesh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/for-fear-of-causing-terror-to-living-beings-mahamati-let-the/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Be lamps unto yourselves. Be refuges unto yourselves. Take yourself no external refuge. Hold fast to the truth as a lamp. Hold fast to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/be-lamps-unto-yourselves-be-refuges-unto-yourselves-take-yourself-no/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Speak only the speech that neither torments self nor does harm to others. That speech is truly well spoken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/speak-only-the-speech-that-neither-torments-self-nor-does-harm-to/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Pain is the outcome of sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/pain-is-the-outcome-of-sin/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [It is because I perceive the danger in the practice of mystic wonders, that I loath, abhor, and am ashamed thereof.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/it-is-because-i-perceive-the-danger-in-the-practice-of-mystic-wonders/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [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/) > [If one is the master of oneself, one is the resort one can depend on; therefore, one should control oneself of all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/if-one-is-the-master-of-oneself-one-is-the-resort-one-can-depend-on/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Watch the thought and its ways with care, and let it spring from love born out of concern for all beings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/watch-the-thought-and-its-ways-with-care-and-let-it-spring-from-love/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [One is not low because of birth nor does birth make one holy. Deeds alone make one low, deeds alone make one holy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/one-is-not-low-because-of-birth-nor-does-birth-make-one-holy-deeds/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [He who causes suffering shall suffer. There is no escape.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/he-who-causes-suffering-shall-suffer-there-is-no-escape/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [If a person does not harm any living being...and does not kill or cause others to kill - that person is a true spiritual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/if-a-person-does-not-harm-any-living-being-and-does-not-kill-or-cause/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [The fool says, "These are my sons, this is my land, this is my money." In reality, the fool does not own himself, much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/the-fool-says-these-are-my-sons-this-is-my-land-this-is-my-money-in/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) [Explore all 1,043 Gautama Buddha quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) ## More Beads quotes > [The translucence that comes when life hardens into a bead of such cruel perfection you see it with the purest clarity. Everything suddenly there--life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-monk-kidd/the-translucence-that-comes-when-life-hardens-into-a-bead-of-such/) [Sue Monk Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-monk-kidd/) > [slowly the pale dew-beads of light lapped up from flowers can thicken, darken to gold: honey of the human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-levertov/slowly-the-pale-dew-beads-of-light-lapped-up-from-flowers-can-thicken/) [Denise Levertov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-levertov/) > [You think you know yourself, the world. You believe you've got a bead on everybody else's bullshit, but what about your own?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-lipsyte/you-think-you-know-yourself-the-world-you-believe-you-ve-got-a-bead/) [Sam Lipsyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-lipsyte/) > [I think all writers are always collecting characters as we go along. Not just characters of course, we're collecting EVERYTHING. Bits and pieces of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-sokoloff/i-think-all-writers-are-always-collecting-characters-as-we-go-along/) Alexandra Sokoloff > [Deciding to chant the mantra a certain number of times daily will help foster the japa habit. We should always keep a rosary with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/deciding-to-chant-the-mantra-a-certain-number-of-times-daily-will/) [Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/) > [Then, when people saw you strolling around at high noon holding your rosary beads, they’d think, ‘Well, that can’t be a vampire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/then-when-people-saw-you-strolling-around-at-high-noon-holding-your/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) > [We must always remember that God is Love. "A fool indeed is he who, living on the banks of the Ganga, seeks to dig…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/we-must-always-remember-that-god-is-love-a-fool-indeed-is-he-who/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Every time some new huckster of angst-ridden metaphor is appointed by Art Forum, the congregation genuflects, stroking the catalog like a handful of Rosary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abe-ajay/every-time-some-new-huckster-of-angst-ridden-metaphor-is-appointed-by/) [Abe Ajay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abe-ajay/) > [You know, if I cleaned out my backpack, which I don't really use anymore, I'd find a bunch of beads. I have a bunch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-connaughton/you-know-if-i-cleaned-out-my-backpack-which-i-don-t-really-use/) [Pat Connaughton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-connaughton/) > [SHE is neither pink nor pale, And she never will be all mine; She learned her hands in a fairy-tale, And her mouth on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edna-st-vincent-millay/she-is-neither-pink-nor-pale-and-she-never-will-be-all-mine-she/) [Edna St. Vincent Millay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edna-st-vincent-millay/) > [Reading a text is more like tracing this process of constant flickering than it is like counting the beads on a necklace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-eagleton/reading-a-text-is-more-like-tracing-this-process-of-constant/) [Terry Eagleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-eagleton/) > [Loyalty to God is alone fundamental. Feelings, words, deeds, must be beads strung on the string of duty. 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