--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our life is shaped by our mind; we become…" description: "\"Our life is shaped by our mind; we become what we think. Suffering follows an evil thought as the wheels of a cart follow the oxen that draws it. Our l..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f71/gautama-buddha-163_attitude_our-life-is-shaped-by-our-mind-we-become_2388260.jpg" --- # Our life is shaped by our mind; we become what we think… ![“Our life is shaped by our mind; we become what we think. Suffering follows an evil thought as the wheels of a cart follow the oxen that draws it. Our life is shaped by our mind; we become what we think. Joy follows a pure thought like a shadow that never leaves.” quote by Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f71/gautama-buddha-163_attitude_our-life-is-shaped-by-our-mind-we-become_2388260.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f71/gautama-buddha-163_attitude_our-life-is-shaped-by-our-mind-we-become_2388260.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f71/gautama-buddha-163_attitude_our-life-is-shaped-by-our-mind-we-become_2388260.jpg) > “Our life is shaped by our mind; we become what we think. Suffering follows an evil thought as the wheels of a cart follow the oxen that draws it. Our life is shaped by our mind; we become what we think. Joy follows a pure thought like a shadow that never leaves.” [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. Thoughts shape reality; negative thoughts bring suffering, positive thoughts bring joy. **In simple terms:** Mind creates our experience. Key Takeaway Cultivate positive thoughts to foster joy. Themes mind thoughts experience joy Mood calm reflective Type spiritual motivational When to use this quote - meditation - stress management - daily mindset Key Concepts Buddhist philosophy mental causality psychology Questions to Reflect On - What thoughts dominate your day? - How can you shift from negative to positive thinking? A Different Perspective Positive thinking alone cannot erase external hardships. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) [Carts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/carts/) [Draws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/draws/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-is/) [Life Shaped](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-shaped-624087/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Oxen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oxen/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Shadow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shadow/) [Shaped Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shaped-mind-740390/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Think Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-suffering-966184/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/) [Wheels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wheels/) ## Related quotes > [Our life is shaped by our mind; we become what we think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/our-life-is-shaped-by-our-mind-we-become-what-we-think/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [“Our life is shaped by our mind; we become what we think. Suffering follows an evil thought as the wheels of a cart follow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-kingsland/our-life-is-shaped-by-our-mind-we-become-what-we-think-suffering/) [James Kingsland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-kingsland/) > [Know all things to be like this: A mirage, a cloud castle, A dream, an apparition, Without essence, but with qualities that can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/know-all-things-to-be-like-this-a-mirage-a-cloud-castle-a-dream-an/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [“Our life is shaped by our mind, for we become what we think.” That is the essence of the Buddha’s universe and the whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/our-life-is-shaped-by-our-mind-for-we-become-what-we-think-that-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The design of a book is the pattern of a reality controlled and shaped by the mind of the writer. This is completely understood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/the-design-of-a-book-is-the-pattern-of-a-reality-controlled-and/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [Think of the problem of the world as a cart. It has to have two wheels. If you have one wheel, the cart doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-creme/think-of-the-problem-of-the-world-as-a-cart-it-has-to-have-two-wheels/) [Benjamin Creme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-creme/) > [We put thirty spokes to make a wheel: But it is on the hole in the center that the use of the cart hinges.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/we-put-thirty-spokes-to-make-a-wheel-but-it-is-on-the-hole-in-the/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [If CART continues on, it's just going to drag all of open-wheel racing down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-andretti/if-cart-continues-on-it-s-just-going-to-drag-all-of-open-wheel-racing/) [Michael Andretti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-andretti/) > [People are pissed off about the seemingly impossible goal of social mobility. their proposed solution is to take the wheels off the cart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-lee/people-are-pissed-off-about-the-seemingly-impossible-goal-of-social/) [Stan Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-lee/) > [So let us raise a cheer ... for the insatiable spirit of Man eager for all new things! What a tale could have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecil-arthur-lewis/so-let-us-raise-a-cheer-for-the-insatiable-spirit-of-man-eager-for/) [Cecil Arthur Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecil-arthur-lewis/) > [do you fix a wheel that isn't broken, or do you wait until the cart collapses?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/do-you-fix-a-wheel-that-isn-t-broken-or-do-you-wait-until-the-cart/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [What we are today comes from our thoughts of yesterday, and our present thoughts build our life of tomorrow: our life is the creation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/what-we-are-today-comes-from-our-thoughts-of-yesterday-and-our/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Class is something I know about. I've lived it every day of my life, and it shaped me in my identity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lindsay-abaire/class-is-something-i-know-about-i-ve-lived-it-every-day-of-my-life/) [David Lindsay-Abaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lindsay-abaire/) > [Although I still occasionally paint and draw, my life has now been shaped by my writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-banks/although-i-still-occasionally-paint-and-draw-my-life-has-now-been/) [Russell Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-banks/) > [Our life is shaped by our thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/our-life-is-shaped-by-our-thoughts/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) ## 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 Attitude quotes > [“WE CAN'T ALWAYS CONTROL OUR CIRCUMSTANCES BUT WE CAN CONTROL OUR ATTITUDE. WE MUST BE MORE CONCERNED WITH WHAT WE DO WITH WHAT HAPPENS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/we-can-t-always-control-our-circumstances-but-we-can-control-our/) [MARVIN J. ASHTON](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [It's not the method, it's the mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gilbert/it-s-not-the-method-it-s-the-mindset/) [Andy Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gilbert/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [Vow to be valiant. Resolve to be radiant. Determine to be dynamic. Strive to be sincere. Aspire to be attuned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-arthur-ward/vow-to-be-valiant-resolve-to-be-radiant-determine-to-be-dynamic/) [William Arthur Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-arthur-ward/) > [Don't judge me because I'm stupid. Don't judge me because I'm, mean. Don't judge me because I'm weird. Don't judge me for mistakes. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-harden-me/don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-stupid-don-t-judge-me-because-i-m-mean-don/) [Isaiah Harden (Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaiah-harden-me/) > [Your feelings (mood) dictate your thought, your thought determines your attitude (reactions) and your attitude describes your lifestyle, so: be careful how you feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheye-hassan/your-feelings-mood-dictate-your-thought-your-thought-determines-your/) [Sheye Hassan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheye-hassan/) > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [“Good Seeds! Gratitude is the Greatest Attitude that has no Substitute.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-kelvin-clive/good-seeds-gratitude-is-the-greatest-attitude-that-has-no-substitute/) [Bernard Kelvin Clive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-kelvin-clive/) > [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/) [Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/) > [One genuine reason to feel jealous of my parents:-) I will never ever have a kid as awesome as their's...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-genuine-reason-to-feel-jealous-of-my-parents-i-will-never-ever/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm optimistic Hong Kong will achieve universal suffrage - no matter the attitude of Beijing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-wong/i-m-optimistic-hong-kong-will-achieve-universal-suffrage-no-matter/) [Joshua Wong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-wong/) > [My attitude it that you don't give in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-taylor/my-attitude-it-that-you-don-t-give-in/) [Phil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-taylor/) > [Transparency pertains to impartial behavior, implies openness, communication, and accountability. Inculcate transparency in attitude and experience a life free of controversy and blame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kr-sinha/transparency-pertains-to-impartial-behavior-implies-openness/) [Dr Anil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kr-sinha/) > [And if the mind thinks with a believing attitude one can do amazing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/and-if-the-mind-thinks-with-a-believing-attitude-one-can-do-amazing/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) [Browse all 9,543 Attitude quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Our life is shaped by our mind; we become what we think. Suffering follows an evil thought as the wheels of a cart follow the oxen that draws it. Our life is shaped by our mind; we become what we think. 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