--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We need to keep a constant watch over our…" description: "\"We need to keep a constant watch over our mind and learn to distinguish between the beneficial and harmful thoughts that are arising moment by moment. ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4df/geshe-kelsang-gyatso-7286_able_we-need-to-keep-a-constant-watch-over-ou_1030135.png" --- # We need to keep a constant watch over our mind and learn… ![“We need to keep a constant watch over our mind and learn to distinguish between the beneficial and harmful thoughts that are arising moment by moment. Those who are able to do this are truly wise.” quote by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4df/geshe-kelsang-gyatso-7286_able_we-need-to-keep-a-constant-watch-over-ou_1030135.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4df/geshe-kelsang-gyatso-7286_able_we-need-to-keep-a-constant-watch-over-ou_1030135.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4df/geshe-kelsang-gyatso-7286_able_we-need-to-keep-a-constant-watch-over-ou_1030135.png) > “We need to keep a constant watch over our mind and learn to distinguish between the beneficial and harmful thoughts that are arising moment by moment. Those who are able to do this are truly wise.” [Geshe Kelsang Gyatso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Cultivating mindfulness lets us observe thoughts, separating helpful from harmful, leading to wisdom. **In simple terms:** Watch thoughts, choose the good. Key Takeaway Practice daily mindfulness. Themes mindfulness wisdom mental health Mood calm reflective Type spiritual inspirational When to use this quote - Meditation - therapy - stress management Key Concepts Buddhism self‑awareness Questions to Reflect On - How do you notice harmful thoughts? - What practices help you nurture beneficial ones? A Different Perspective Mindfulness alone may not resolve deep trauma without support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Thoughts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thoughts/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise/) ## Related quotes > [“Awareness of what is beneficial and harmful is that whereby one does not take any entanglements along with him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/awareness-of-what-is-beneficial-and-harmful-is-that-whereby-one-does/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [Examine thus yourself from every side. Note harmful thoughts and every futile striving. Thus it is that heroes in the bodhisattva path Apply the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shantideva/examine-thus-yourself-from-every-side-note-harmful-thoughts-and-every/) [Shantideva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shantideva/) > [“It doesn’t matter how many mantras you recite; how many prostrations you do; where you go on a pilgrimage; what so-called higher practice you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karma-yeshe-rabgye/it-doesn-t-matter-how-many-mantras-you-recite-how-many-prostrations/) karma yeshe rabgye > [“What is beneficial and what is harmful, who is considered to have this awareness? It is that which does not ruin this loka (this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/what-is-beneficial-and-what-is-harmful-who-is-considered-to-have-this/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [Thoughts arising from practical experience may be a bridle or a spur.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyman-rickover/thoughts-arising-from-practical-experience-may-be-a-bridle-or-a-spur/) [Hyman Rickover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyman-rickover/) > [As you watch your mind, you discover your self as the watcher. When you stand motionless, only watching, you discover your self as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/as-you-watch-your-mind-you-discover-your-self-as-the-watcher-when-you/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [Mind is elusive, you cannot hold it in your hand. You cannot force it into a test-tube. The only way to know it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/mind-is-elusive-you-cannot-hold-it-in-your-hand-you-cannot-force-it/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [The mind is like a river. The thoughts are like the various droplets of water. We are submerged in that water. Stay on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-g-mohan/the-mind-is-like-a-river-the-thoughts-are-like-the-various-droplets/) [A. G. Mohan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-g-mohan/) > [“We watch the mind as it turns the present moment into a problem and entertains itself by chasing after a solution to the problem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-riggs/we-watch-the-mind-as-it-turns-the-present-moment-into-a-problem-and/) [Benjamin Riggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-riggs/) > [The mind is a machine that is constantly asking: What would I prefer? Close your eyes, refuse to move, and watch what your mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/the-mind-is-a-machine-that-is-constantly-asking-what-would-i-prefer/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [You can tell my eyes to watch out for my mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-ray-cyrus/you-can-tell-my-eyes-to-watch-out-for-my-mind/) [Billy Ray Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-ray-cyrus/) > [You've got to watch your mind all the time or you'll awaken and find a strange picture on your press.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-buckley/you-ve-got-to-watch-your-mind-all-the-time-or-you-ll-awaken-and-find/) [Lord Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-buckley/) > [“Watch. Whenever mind says something, see that it is again putting you into a routine. Try to do something new and the mind will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/watch-whenever-mind-says-something-see-that-it-is-again-putting-you/) [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) > [Whatever you may have to do, watch your mind. Also you must have moments of complete inner peace and quiet, when your mind is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/whatever-you-may-have-to-do-watch-your-mind-also-you-must-have/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [“As soon as one begins to watch one’s mind,” Jung told his students, “one begins to observe the autonomous phenomena in which one exists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-valentine-lachman/as-soon-as-one-begins-to-watch-one-s-mind-jung-told-his-students-one/) [Gary Valentine Lachman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-valentine-lachman/) ## More by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso > [Our mental attitude transforms a situation into either a problem or an opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/our-mental-attitude-transforms-a-situation-into-either-a-problem-or/) [Geshe Kelsang Gyatso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/) > [Today we can see many different forms of Buddhism, such as Zen and Theravada Buddhism. All these different aspects are practices of Buddha's teachings,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/today-we-can-see-many-different-forms-of-buddhism-such-as-zen-and/) [Geshe Kelsang Gyatso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/) > [Going for refuge to Buddha,Dharma, and Sangha means that we apply effort to receiving Buddha's blessings, to putting Dharma into practice, and to receiving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/going-for-refuge-to-buddha-dharma-and-sangha-means-that-we-apply/) [Geshe Kelsang Gyatso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/) > [Enlightenment is the inner light of wisdom that is permanently free from all mistaken appearance, and whose function is to bestow mental peace upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/enlightenment-is-the-inner-light-of-wisdom-that-is-permanently-free/) [Geshe Kelsang Gyatso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/) > [Anger is one of the most common and destructive delusions, and it afflicts our mind almost every day. To solve the problem of anger,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/anger-is-one-of-the-most-common-and-destructive-delusions-and-it/) [Geshe Kelsang Gyatso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/) > [Whenever we practise meditation, whether or not our meditation is clear, we are performing a virtuous mental action that is a cause of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/whenever-we-practise-meditation-whether-or-not-our-meditation-is/) [Geshe Kelsang Gyatso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/) > [Right now we have obtained a human rebirth and have the opportunity to attain enlightenment through Dharma practice, so if we waste this precious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/right-now-we-have-obtained-a-human-rebirth-and-have-the-opportunity/) [Geshe Kelsang Gyatso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/) > [Since inner peace is the source of all happiness, we can see how important meditation is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/since-inner-peace-is-the-source-of-all-happiness-we-can-see-how/) [Geshe Kelsang Gyatso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/) > [I have not met one living being that has not been the mother of all the rest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/i-have-not-met-one-living-being-that-has-not-been-the-mother-of-all/) [Geshe Kelsang Gyatso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/) > [All objects whether pleasant, unpleasant or neutral, are mere appearances to the mind just like things experienced in a dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/all-objects-whether-pleasant-unpleasant-or-neutral-are-mere/) [Geshe Kelsang Gyatso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/) > [When a jealous person sees signs of other people's success and good fortune, his heart is pierced with envy. But someone who has learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/when-a-jealous-person-sees-signs-of-other-people-s-success-and-good/) [Geshe Kelsang Gyatso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/) > [This impure world that we presently experience exists only in relation to our impure mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/this-impure-world-that-we-presently-experience-exists-only-in/) [Geshe Kelsang Gyatso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/) > [The cause of happiness and the solution to our problems do not lie in knowledge of material things. Happiness and suffering are states of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/the-cause-of-happiness-and-the-solution-to-our-problems-do-not-lie-in/) [Geshe Kelsang Gyatso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/) > [The more we want certain situations, the more we find ourself stuck in situations we do not want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/the-more-we-want-certain-situations-the-more-we-find-ourself-stuck-in/) [Geshe Kelsang Gyatso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/) > [“someone places a toy rubber snake in our room, the first time we see it we may believe that it is a real snake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/someone-places-a-toy-rubber-snake-in-our-room-the-first-time-we-see/) [Geshe Kelsang Gyatso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/) [Explore all 92 Geshe Kelsang Gyatso quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/) ## More Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/) [Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) Greg Perry > [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/) [Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/) > [- You look fine. - Right. I look fine. Except I don't, said Zora, tugging sadly at her man's nightshirt. This was why Kiki…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/you-look-fine-right-i-look-fine-except-i-don-t-said-zora-tugging/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) Browse all 17,257 Able quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We need to keep a constant watch over our mind and learn to distinguish between the beneficial and harmful thoughts that are arising moment by moment. Those who are able to do this are truly wise.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Geshe Kelsang Gyatso" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/we-need-to-keep-a-constant-watch-over-our-mind-and-learn-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Able" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/we-need-to-keep-a-constant-watch-over-our-mind-and-learn-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4df/geshe-kelsang-gyatso-7286_able_we-need-to-keep-a-constant-watch-over-ou_1030135.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4df/geshe-kelsang-gyatso-7286_able_we-need-to-keep-a-constant-watch-over-ou_1030135.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4df/geshe-kelsang-gyatso-7286_able_we-need-to-keep-a-constant-watch-over-ou_1030135.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We need to keep a constant watch over our mind and learn to distinguish between the beneficial and harmful…” — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Geshe Kelsang Gyatso", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We need to keep a constant...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/we-need-to-keep-a-constant-watch-over-our-mind-and-learn-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/we-need-to-keep-a-constant-watch-over-our-mind-and-learn-to/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```