--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Seeking but not finding the house builder…" description: "\"Seeking but not finding the house builder I travelled through life after life. How painful is repeated birth! House-builders, you have now been seen. Y..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/456/gautama-buddha-163_birth_seeking-but-not-finding-the-house-builde_2328517.jpg" --- # Seeking but not finding the house builder I travelled… ![“Seeking but not finding the house builder I travelled through life after life. How painful is repeated birth! House-builders, you have now been seen. You will not build the house again.” quote by Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/456/gautama-buddha-163_birth_seeking-but-not-finding-the-house-builde_2328517.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/456/gautama-buddha-163_birth_seeking-but-not-finding-the-house-builde_2328517.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/456/gautama-buddha-163_birth_seeking-but-not-finding-the-house-builde_2328517.jpg) > “Seeking but not finding the house builder I travelled through life after life. How painful is repeated birth! House-builders, you have now been seen. You will not build the house again.” [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. The quote reflects the Buddhist view of samsara as a cycle of repeated births, each painful, and the ultimate cessation of rebirth when enlightenment is achieved. **In simple terms:** Repeated births are painful; enlightenment ends the cycle. Key Takeaway Seek enlightenment to end suffering. Themes samsara rebirth enlightenment suffering impermanence Mood reflective serene Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - Meditation practice - ethical living - study of Dharma - mindfulness retreats Key Concepts Buddhist doctrine cycle of existence spiritual liberation Questions to Reflect On - How does your daily conduct affect your rebirth? - What does “house” symbolize for you? A Different Perspective The metaphor of house‑building may oversimplify complex karmic processes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Birth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/birth/) [Builder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/builder/) [Finding House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finding-house-5592078/) [Findings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/findings/) [House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/house/) [House Builder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/house-builder-5592077/) [House Builders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/house-builders-5409755/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Painful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painful/) [Rebirth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rebirth/) [Repeated Birth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/repeated-birth-5592079/) [Seeking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seeking/) ## Related quotes > [People become house builders through building houses, harp players through playing the harp. We grow to be just by doing things which are just.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/people-become-house-builders-through-building-houses-harp-players/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [“Through the round of many births I roamed without reward, without rest, seeking the house-builder. Painful is birth again & again. House-builder, you're seen!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/through-the-round-of-many-births-i-roamed-without-reward-without-rest/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [I have passed in ignorance through a cycle of many rebirths, seeking the builder of the house. Continuous rebirth is a painful thing. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/i-have-passed-in-ignorance-through-a-cycle-of-many-rebirths-seeking/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [“Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain.22”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-viola/unless-the-lord-builds-the-house-its-builders-labor-in-vain-22/) [Frank Viola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-viola/) > [“Suppose a man threw into the sea a yoke with one hole in it, and the east wind carried it to the west, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/suppose-a-man-threw-into-the-sea-a-yoke-with-one-hole-in-it-and-the/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Freed by full realization and at peace, the mind of such a man is at peace, and his speech and action peaceful. He has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/freed-by-full-realization-and-at-peace-the-mind-of-such-a-man-is-at/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Long is the night for the sleepless. Long is the road for the weary. Long is samsara (the cycle of continued rebirth) for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/long-is-the-night-for-the-sleepless-long-is-the-road-for-the-weary/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Builders insist that success may never come without a compelling personal commitment to something you care about and would be willing to do with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-i-porras/builders-insist-that-success-may-never-come-without-a-compelling/) [Jerry I. Porras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-i-porras/) > [I came to architecture from building. 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"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 Birth quotes > [“Conception is the beginning of human life. From the time that an ovum is fertilized a new life begins that is neither that of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declaration-on-procured-abortion-congregation-for-the-doctrine-of-the-faith-1974/conception-is-the-beginning-of-human-life-from-the-time-that-an-ovum/) [Declaration on Procured Abortion Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith 1974](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declaration-on-procured-abortion-congregation-for-the-doctrine-of-the-faith-1974/) > [In the entire history of the universe, let alone in your own history, there has never been another day just like today, and there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/in-the-entire-history-of-the-universe-let-alone-in-your-own-history/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [The greatest mystery in life is not life itself, but death. Death is the culmination of life, the ultimate blossoming of life. In death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/the-greatest-mystery-in-life-is-not-life-itself-but-death-death-is/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Guns have little or nothing to do with juvenile violence. The causes of youth violence are working parents who put their kids into daycare,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-delay/guns-have-little-or-nothing-to-do-with-juvenile-violence-the-causes/) [Tom DeLay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-delay/) > [“Every child is born as angel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/every-child-is-born-as-angel/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Nirvana is a word that means enlightenment, being beyond the illusion of birth and death, the illusion of pain, the illusion of love, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/nirvana-is-a-word-that-means-enlightenment-being-beyond-the-illusion/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [It was no accident, no coincidence, that the seasons came round and round year after year. 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