--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Real peace comes only when you stop…" description: "\"Real peace comes only when you stop chasing it. When you relax your driving desire for comfort, real fulfillment arises. When you drop your hectic purs..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b5/henepola-gunaratana-10550_arise_real-peace-comes-only-when-you-stop-chas_1044969.png" --- # Real peace comes only when you stop chasing it. When you… ![“Real peace comes only when you stop chasing it. When you relax your driving desire for comfort, real fulfillment arises. When you drop your hectic pursuit of gratification, the real beauty of life comes out. When you seek to know the reality without illusion, complete with all its pain and danger…” quote by Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b5/henepola-gunaratana-10550_arise_real-peace-comes-only-when-you-stop-chas_1044969.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b5/henepola-gunaratana-10550_arise_real-peace-comes-only-when-you-stop-chas_1044969.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b5/henepola-gunaratana-10550_arise_real-peace-comes-only-when-you-stop-chas_1044969.png) > “Real peace comes only when you stop chasing it. When you relax your driving desire for comfort, real fulfillment arises. When you drop your hectic pursuit of gratification, the real beauty of life comes out. When you seek to know the reality without illusion, complete with all its pain and danger, that is when real freedfom and security are yours.” [Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True peace arises when desire ceases and one embraces reality fully, including its hardships. **In simple terms:** Peace comes from letting go of desire. Key Takeaway Release craving to find inner security. Themes mindfulness peace desire acceptance Mood calm insightful Type spiritual motivational When to use this quote - meditation - stress reduction - life challenges - spiritual practice Key Concepts Buddhist philosophy non‑attachment Questions to Reflect On - What desires keep you from peace? - How can you practice acceptance amid pain? A Different Perspective Complete surrender may be impractical in daily life. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arise/) [Beauty of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beauty-of-life/) [Chasing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chasing/) [Chasing Relax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chasing-relax-2465139/) [Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comfort/) [Danger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/danger/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Driving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/driving/) [Fulfillment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fulfillment/) [Gratification](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gratification/) [Gratification Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gratification-real-2465138/) [Hectic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hectic/) [Illusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illusion/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Pursuit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pursuit/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Real beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-beauty/) [Real Fulfillment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-fulfillment-428619/) [Real Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-peace/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Relax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relax/) [Security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/security/) [Spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual/) ## Related quotes > [“Lasting happiness,’ Julian wrote, ‘comes from the size of our impact, not the extent of our income. Real fulfillment is a product of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-s-sharma/lasting-happiness-julian-wrote-comes-from-the-size-of-our-impact-not/) [Robin S. Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-s-sharma/) > [Wherever technology reaches its real fulfillment, it transcends into architecture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-mies-van-der-rohe/wherever-technology-reaches-its-real-fulfillment-it-transcends-into/) [Ludwig Mies van der Rohe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-mies-van-der-rohe/) > [I found real fulfillment through my children and through adopting special needs kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-farrow/i-found-real-fulfillment-through-my-children-and-through-adopting/) [Mia Farrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-farrow/) > [Real fulfillment, for the man who allows absolutely free rein to his desires, and who much dominate everything, lies in hatred.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/real-fulfillment-for-the-man-who-allows-absolutely-free-rein-to-his/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [“we train ourselves to ignore the constant impulses to be more comfortable, and we dive into reality instead. The irony of it is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/we-train-ourselves-to-ignore-the-constant-impulses-to-be-more/) [Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/) > [By silencing the mind, we can experience real peace. As long as various kinds of thoughts agitate the brain, we don't experience 100 percent peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/by-silencing-the-mind-we-can-experience-real-peace-as-long-as-various/) [Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/) > [That peace that we're after, lies somewhere beyond personality, beyond the perception of others, beyond invention and disguise, even beyond effort itself. You can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-carrey/that-peace-that-we-re-after-lies-somewhere-beyond-personality-beyond/) [Jim Carrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-carrey/) > [Real peace comes only to those who control the body and mind with self-discipline.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vishnudevananda-saraswati/real-peace-comes-only-to-those-who-control-the-body-and-mind-with/) [Vishnudevananda Saraswati](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vishnudevananda-saraswati/) > [“The irony of it is that real peace comes only when you stop chasing it—another Catch-22.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhante-henepola-gunaratana/the-irony-of-it-is-that-real-peace-comes-only-when-you-stop-chasing/) [Bhante Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhante-henepola-gunaratana/) > [Peace is not just the mere absence of violence or disturbance. It's when there is a possibility of conflict, but you deliberately avoid violence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/peace-is-not-just-the-mere-absence-of-violence-or-disturbance-it-s/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [My mom lived on an ashram on the early eighties. She turned me on to kundalini yoga and chanting and Transcendental Meditation. That was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-dane/my-mom-lived-on-an-ashram-on-the-early-eighties-she-turned-me-on-to/) [Taylor Dane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-dane/) > [If we are to reach a situation of true peace, real peace, peace for generations, we will have to make painful concessions. Not in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-sharon/if-we-are-to-reach-a-situation-of-true-peace-real-peace-peace-for/) [Ariel Sharon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-sharon/) > [“Only she who trusts nothing can know real peace.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjorie-m-liu/only-she-who-trusts-nothing-can-know-real-peace/) [Marjorie M. Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjorie-m-liu/) > [“If we are to reach real peace in the world, we shall have to begin with the children.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/if-we-are-to-reach-real-peace-in-the-world-we-shall-have-to-begin/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Everybody loves to talk about calmness and peace, whether in a family, national, or international context, but without inner peace how can we make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/everybody-loves-to-talk-about-calmness-and-peace-whether-in-a-family/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) ## More by Henepola Gunaratana > [You can only have bliss if you don't chase it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/you-can-only-have-bliss-if-you-don-t-chase-it/) [Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/) > [“we try mentally to grab onto it or push it away. That sets the worry response in motion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/we-try-mentally-to-grab-onto-it-or-push-it-away-that-sets-the-worry/) [Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/) > [You can learn not to want what you want, to recognize desires but not be controlled by them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/you-can-learn-not-to-want-what-you-want-to-recognize-desires-but-not/) [Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/) > [The Buddha's message was simple but profound. Neither a life of self-indulgence nor one of self-mortification can bring happiness. Only a middle path, avoiding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/the-buddha-s-message-was-simple-but-profound-neither-a-life-of-self/) [Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/) > [Mindfulness helps us freeze the frame so that we can become aware of our sensations and experiences as they are, without the distorting coloration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/mindfulness-helps-us-freeze-the-frame-so-that-we-can-become-aware-of/) [Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/) > [But look within and watch the stuff coming up-restlessness, anxiety, impatience, pain-just watch it come up and don't get involved. Much to your surprise,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/but-look-within-and-watch-the-stuff-coming-up-restlessness-anxiety/) [Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/) > [“You can learn to perceive your life as an ever-flowing movement. You can learn to see the continuous flow of all conditioned”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/you-can-learn-to-perceive-your-life-as-an-ever-flowing-movement-you/) [Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/) > [No problem. You are not crazier than you were yesterday. It has always been this way, and you just never noticed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/no-problem-you-are-not-crazier-than-you-were-yesterday-it-has-always/) [Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/) > [“We spend all of our energies trying to make ourselves feel better, trying to bury our fears, endlessly seeking security.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/we-spend-all-of-our-energies-trying-to-make-ourselves-feel-better/) [Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/) > [Peace is not a thought, not a concept; it is a nonverbal experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/peace-is-not-a-thought-not-a-concept-it-is-a-nonverbal-experience/) [Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/) > [You can't ever get everything you want. It is impossible. Luckily, there is another option: You can learn to control your mind, to step…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/you-can-t-ever-get-everything-you-want-it-is-impossible-luckily-there/) [Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/) > [Whatever attitudes we habitually use toward ourselves, we will use on others, and whatever attitudes we habitually use toward others, we will use on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/whatever-attitudes-we-habitually-use-toward-ourselves-we-will-use-on/) [Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/) > [When you have learned compassion for yourself, compassion for others is automatic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/when-you-have-learned-compassion-for-yourself-compassion-for-others/) [Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/) > [“There is no clinging to the pleasant, no fleeing from the unpleasant. Mindfulness treats all experiences equally, all thoughts equally, all feelings equally. Nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/there-is-no-clinging-to-the-pleasant-no-fleeing-from-the-unpleasant/) [Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/) > [“Place no head above your own.” By this he meant, don’t just accept somebody else’s word. See for yourself. We want you to apply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henepola-gunaratana/place-no-head-above-your-own-by-this-he-meant-don-t-just-accept/) [Henepola Gunaratana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/) [Explore all 65 Henepola Gunaratana quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henepola-gunaratana/) ## More Arise quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [The financial crisis we are facing today arises from the fact that there is almost no more social, cultural, natural, and spiritual capital left…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-eisenstein/the-financial-crisis-we-are-facing-today-arises-from-the-fact-that/) [Charles Eisenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-eisenstein/) > [Let art, then, imitate nature, find what she desires, and follow as she directs. For in invention nature is never last, education never first;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/let-art-then-imitate-nature-find-what-she-desires-and-follow-as-she/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Do not be satisfied with the speech of your lips and the thought in your heart, all the promises and good sayings in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/menachem-mendel-of-kotzk/do-not-be-satisfied-with-the-speech-of-your-lips-and-the-thought-in/) [Menachem Mendel of Kotzk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/menachem-mendel-of-kotzk/) > [Arise Evans had a fungous nose, and said, it was revealed to him, that the King's hand would cure him, and at the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-aubrey/arise-evans-had-a-fungous-nose-and-said-it-was-revealed-to-him-that/) [John Aubrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-aubrey/) > [Boasting and bravado may exist in the breast even of the coward, if he is successful through a mere lucky hit; but a just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thucydides/boasting-and-bravado-may-exist-in-the-breast-even-of-the-coward-if-he/) [Thucydides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thucydides/) > [We need less travelling by jet plaes from congress to congress... but more kneeling and praying and pleading to God to have mercy on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martyn-lloyd-jones/we-need-less-travelling-by-jet-plaes-from-congress-to-congress-but/) [Martyn Lloyd-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martyn-lloyd-jones/) > [In my model, important interference phenomena arise when individual strata come into contact. These chaotic fluctuations are, I suppose, what my music is really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-ferneyhough/in-my-model-important-interference-phenomena-arise-when-individual/) [Brian Ferneyhough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-ferneyhough/) > [Whenever you step out of the noise of thinking, that is meditation, and a different state of consciousness arises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/whenever-you-step-out-of-the-noise-of-thinking-that-is-meditation-and/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [An idea or institution may arise for one reason and be maintained for quite a different reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-mccabe/an-idea-or-institution-may-arise-for-one-reason-and-be-maintained-for/) [Joseph McCabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-mccabe/) > [The oppressed without hope are mysteriously quiet. When the conception of change is beyond the limits of the possible, there are no words to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-rowbotham/the-oppressed-without-hope-are-mysteriously-quiet-when-the-conception/) [Sheila Rowbotham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-rowbotham/) > [I arise full of eagerness and energy, knowing well what achievement lies ahead of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zane-grey/i-arise-full-of-eagerness-and-energy-knowing-well-what-achievement/) [Zane Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zane-grey/) > [When you train your thoughts to dissolve as they arise, they will cross your mind like a bird crosses the sky--without leaving a trace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julietta-suzuki/when-you-train-your-thoughts-to-dissolve-as-they-arise-they-will/) [Julietta Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julietta-suzuki/) > [Nothing, not even the best and noblest, can go on as it now is. Nothing, not even what is lowest and most bestial, will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/nothing-not-even-the-best-and-noblest-can-go-on-as-it-now-is-nothing/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [So we and our elaborately evolving computers may meet each other halfway. Someday a human being, named perhaps Fred White, may shoot a robot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-k-dick/so-we-and-our-elaborately-evolving-computers-may-meet-each-other/) [Philip K. Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-k-dick/) [Browse all 1,703 Arise quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arise/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Real peace comes only when you stop chasing it. When you relax your driving desire for comfort, real fulfillment arises. When you drop your hectic pursuit of gratification, the real beauty of life comes out. 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