--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When one, abandoning greed, feels no…" description: "\"When one, abandoning greed, feels no greed for what would merit greed, greed gets shed from him - like a drop of water from a lotus leaf.\" — Gautama Bu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5f/gautama-buddha-163_buddhist_when-one-abandoning-greed-feels-no-greed_96248.jpg" --- # When one, abandoning greed, feels no greed for what would… ![“When one, abandoning greed, feels no greed for what would merit greed, greed gets shed from him - like a drop of water from a lotus leaf.” quote by Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5f/gautama-buddha-163_buddhist_when-one-abandoning-greed-feels-no-greed_96248.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5f/gautama-buddha-163_buddhist_when-one-abandoning-greed-feels-no-greed_96248.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5f/gautama-buddha-163_buddhist_when-one-abandoning-greed-feels-no-greed_96248.jpg) > “When one, abandoning greed, feels no greed for what would merit greed, greed gets shed from him - like a drop of water from a lotus leaf.” [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. Greed disappears when desire for material gain vanishes, leaving a mind as clean as a lotus leaf shedding water. **In simple terms:** Greed fades when its object loses appeal. Key Takeaway Desire drives greed. Themes detachment mindfulness impermanence self‑purification spiritual clarity Mood serene reflective Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - meditative practice - ethical decision‑making - overcoming addiction - conflict resolution Key Concepts attachment ego suffering Practical Applications - mindfulness training - ethical leadership Questions to Reflect On - How does desire shape our actions? - What practices help dissolve attachment? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Buddhist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhist/) [Drop of water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drop-of-water/) [Greed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greed/) [Lotuses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lotuses/) [Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [As a single drop of water fills a bucket, so do small deeds of evil; as a single drop of water fills a bucket,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/as-a-single-drop-of-water-fills-a-bucket-so-do-small-deeds-of-evil-as/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Do not think lightly of good, that nothing will come of it. A whole water pot will fill up from dripping drops of water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/do-not-think-lightly-of-good-that-nothing-will-come-of-it-a-whole/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Do not overlook tiny good actions, thinking they are of no benefit; even tiny drops of water in the end will fill a huge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/do-not-overlook-tiny-good-actions-thinking-they-are-of-no-benefit/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Little by little a person becomes evil, as a water pot is filled by drops of water... Little by little a person becomes good,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/little-by-little-a-person-becomes-evil-as-a-water-pot-is-filled-by/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [You like to tell me, things to compel me You've got to sell me on your best intent. I know you're really after fortune…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robben-ford/you-like-to-tell-me-things-to-compel-me-you-ve-got-to-sell-me-on-your/) [Robben Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robben-ford/) > [Ambition and thirst for power have a part but greed and greed alone is the reason for a man wanting to swell his ward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-ranlett-flint/ambition-and-thirst-for-power-have-a-part-but-greed-and-greed-alone/) Charles Ranlett Flint > [“The Only Good Greed Is Greed For Enlightening Experiences”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-cavanagh/the-only-good-greed-is-greed-for-enlightening-experiences/) [Dean Cavanagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-cavanagh/) > [“Well first of all, tell me: Is there some society you know that doesn’t run on greed? 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LAURENTI MAGESA, African…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-ryan/what-constitutes-misuse-of-the-universe-this-question-can-be-answered/) [Christopher Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-ryan/) ## 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. 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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." 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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/) > [Humility simply means that you do a great job at everything and it isn't really a big deal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/humility-simply-means-that-you-do-a-great-job-at-everything-and-it/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [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/) > [I don't look at anything. Every person whether he is Hindu, Muslim or Buddhist, he is my brother, my sister. 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