Be good Quote by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso
“Normally we divide the external world into that which we consider to be good or valuable, bad or worthless, or neither. Most of the time these discriminations are incorrect or have little meaning. For example, our habitual way of categorizing people as friends, enemies, and strangers depending on how they make us feel is both incorrect and a great obstacle to developing impartial love for all living beings. Rather than holding so tightly to our discriminations of the external world, it would be much more beneficial if we learned to discriminate between valuable and worthless states of mind.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Great Liberation, Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, 1994
We often label external things as good or bad, but such judgments are usually flawed; focusing on the quality of mental states is more useful for compassion.
In simple terms: External labels are often wrong; focus on mind quality.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate discernment of thoughts, not people.
Themes
compassion
mindfulness
nonduality
Mood
reflective
calm
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- personal relationships
- meditation practice
- conflict resolution
- ethical decision making
Key Concepts
Buddhist ethics
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you tell when a thought is harmful?
- What practices help you value inner states over external labels?
A Different Perspective
Discriminating mental states can be subtle and requires sustained introspection.
![“Wine is a turne-coate (first a friend, then an enemy). [Wine is a turncoat, first a friend, then an enemy.]” quote by George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/8e8/george-herbert-107_enemy_wine-is-a-turne-coate-first-a-friend-the_187047.jpg)
