--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Saints and ordinary folks are the same…" description: "\"Saints and ordinary folks are the same from the start. Inquiring about a difference is like asking to borrow string when you've got a good strong rope...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/301/hsu-yun-77012_asking_saints-and-ordinary-folks-are-the-same-f_81695.png" --- # Saints and ordinary folks are the same from the start… ![“Saints and ordinary folks are the same from the start. Inquiring about a difference is like asking to borrow string when you've got a good strong rope. Every Dharma is known in the heart.” quote by Hsu Yun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/301/hsu-yun-77012_asking_saints-and-ordinary-folks-are-the-same-f_81695.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/301/hsu-yun-77012_asking_saints-and-ordinary-folks-are-the-same-f_81695.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/301/hsu-yun-77012_asking_saints-and-ordinary-folks-are-the-same-f_81695.png) > “Saints and ordinary folks are the same from the start. Inquiring about a difference is like asking to borrow string when you've got a good strong rope. Every Dharma is known in the heart.” [Hsu Yun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hsu-yun/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. All beings share the same fundamental nature; seeking differences is unnecessary because the truth is already present within each heart. **In simple terms:** Equality of all beings Key Takeaway No need to search for external distinctions Themes spiritual equality inner truth non-duality humility self-realization Mood contemplative reverent hopeful Type aphorism spiritual teaching philosophical insight When to use this quote - personal meditation - teaching spiritual concepts - interfaith dialogue - self‑inquiry - counseling Key Concepts nature of self Dharma perception inner wisdom Practical Applications - mindfulness practice - ethical decision‑making Questions to Reflect On - How does recognizing inherent sameness affect how you treat others? - What internal obstacles keep you from seeing your own Dharma? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Asking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asking/) [Being different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-different/) [Borrowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/borrowing/) [Buddhist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhist/) [Dharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dharma/) [Dharma Known](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dharma-known-1038905/) [Differences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differences/) [Different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different/) [Enlightenment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enlightenment/) [Folks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/folks/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Individual differences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual-differences/) [Inquiring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inquiring/) [Inquiring Difference](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inquiring-difference-1038903/) [Known](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/known/) [Ordinary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ordinary/) [Rope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rope/) [Saint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saint/) [Saints Ordinary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saints-ordinary-1038904/) [Sameness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sameness/) [Strings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strings/) [Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong/) ## Related quotes > [Tolerance and celebration of individual differences is the fire that fuels lasting love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hannah/tolerance-and-celebration-of-individual-differences-is-the-fire-that/) [Tom Hannah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hannah/) > [“Individual differences—It is important to recognise that students with dyslexia are individuals and their individual learning preferences and differences need to be acknowledged.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-reid/individual-differences-it-is-important-to-recognise-that-students/) [Gavin Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-reid/) > [Democracy is a small hard core of common agreement, surrounded by a rich variety of individual differences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bryant-conant/democracy-is-a-small-hard-core-of-common-agreement-surrounded-by-a/) [James Bryant Conant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bryant-conant/) > [Children need both latitude of expression and firmly enforced limits on their behaviors, in a blend that results in calm, patientmanagement. The key to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-scarr/children-need-both-latitude-of-expression-and-firmly-enforced-limits/) [Sandra Scarr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-scarr/) > [The problem of individual differences and group differences would not be made to disappear by abolishing tests. One cannot treat a fever by throwing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-jensen/the-problem-of-individual-differences-and-group-differences-would-not/) [Arthur Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-jensen/) > [“Genes have plenty to do with behavior. Even more appropriately, all behavioral traits are affected to some degree by genetic variability.65 They have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/genes-have-plenty-to-do-with-behavior-even-more-appropriately-all/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“It will place a high value on communal life, more open leadership structures, and the contribution of all the people of God. It will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-frost/it-will-place-a-high-value-on-communal-life-more-open-leadership/) [Michael Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-frost/) > [“We are only able to disrespect, mistreat, and harm one another when we forget that the other person is us; when we only see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-p-kauffman/we-are-only-able-to-disrespect-mistreat-and-harm-one-another-when-we/) [Joseph P. Kauffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-p-kauffman/) > [Nothing other people do is because of you. It is because of themselves. All people live in their own dream, in their own mind;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-angel-ruiz/nothing-other-people-do-is-because-of-you-it-is-because-of-themselves-2/) [Miguel Angel Ruiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-angel-ruiz/) > [“…I’ve seen the world tell us with wars and real estate developments and bad politics and odd court decisions that our lives don’t matter.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-hugo/i-ve-seen-the-world-tell-us-with-wars-and-real-estate-developments/) [Richard Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-hugo/) > [ “They \[progressives\] are men and women who tend to believe that the human being is perfectible and social progress predictable, and that the instrument… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/they-progressives-are-men-and-women-who-tend-to-believe-that-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Once we have made generous latitude for individual differences and schedules, we must firmly discipline ourselves to a regular pattern of prayer. We cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/once-we-have-made-generous-latitude-for-individual-differences-and/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [See God in everyone. It is deception to teach by individual differences and karma.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neem-karoli-baba/see-god-in-everyone-it-is-deception-to-teach-by-individual/) [Neem Karoli Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neem-karoli-baba/) > [The challenge for the church is how do we have unity about basic beliefs and yet respect individual differences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-p-leahy/the-challenge-for-the-church-is-how-do-we-have-unity-about-basic/) [William P. Leahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-p-leahy/) > [Individual differences in testosterone level predict very little about differences in aggression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/individual-differences-in-testosterone-level-predict-very-little/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) ## More by Hsu Yun > [How wide are the horizons of the spinning earth! The moonlight leads the tides and the sun's light will not be confined within the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hsu-yun/how-wide-are-the-horizons-of-the-spinning-earth-the-moonlight-leads/) [Hsu Yun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hsu-yun/) > [You've traveled up ten thousand steps in search of the truth. So many days in the archives, copying, copying. The gravity of the Tang…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hsu-yun/you-ve-traveled-up-ten-thousand-steps-in-search-of-the-truth-so-many/) [Hsu Yun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hsu-yun/) [Explore all 3 Hsu Yun quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hsu-yun/) ## More Asking quotes > [Why did Erich von Stronheim leave Germany? Why did Hitchcock leave England? If you were a director you'd like to work in Hollywood too.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-polanski/why-did-erich-von-stronheim-leave-germany-why-did-hitchcock-leave/) [Roman Polanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-polanski/) > [And in your new lives you'll have to live entirely for that one sensation-that of imminent truth. And you're going to have to holler…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/and-in-your-new-lives-you-ll-have-to-live-entirely-for-that-one/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [“Stop asking yourself how or why and tell yourself you can." - Charmainism”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charmaine-smith-ladd/stop-asking-yourself-how-or-why-and-tell-yourself-you-can-charmainism/) [Charmaine Smith Ladd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charmaine-smith-ladd/) > [Closing his eyes, he sent up a prayer to anyone who was listening, asking please, for God's sake, stop sending him signals that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/closing-his-eyes-he-sent-up-a-prayer-to-anyone-who-was-listening/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [People will identify with a persecuted minority without asking themselves what they are identifying with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-mantel/people-will-identify-with-a-persecuted-minority-without-asking/) [Hilary Mantel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-mantel/) > [If you're having a bad day already and everybody is just asking you petty questions, it drives people to the edge, or something really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jess-weixler/if-you-re-having-a-bad-day-already-and-everybody-is-just-asking-you/) [Jess Weixler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jess-weixler/) > [You never give away your heart; you lend it from time to time. If it were not so, how could we take it back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/you-never-give-away-your-heart-you-lend-it-from-time-to-time-if-it/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [I'm not asking people to feel sorry for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-abramoff/i-m-not-asking-people-to-feel-sorry-for-me/) [Jack Abramoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-abramoff/) > [The boldness of asking deep questions may require unforeseen flexibility if we are to accept the answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-greene/the-boldness-of-asking-deep-questions-may-require-unforeseen/) [Brian Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-greene/) > [Use Google Before Asking A Stupid Question.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muskaan/use-google-before-asking-a-stupid-question/) [Muskaan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muskaan/) > [There were people asking 'Can women be funny?' People still ask that. It's like asking: 'Can women breathe in and out?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-walters/there-were-people-asking-can-women-be-funny-people-still-ask-that-it/) [Julie Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-walters/) > [Whether that's speaking up in your job or asking for a promotion or saying, 'I think I can do that.' Using your voice in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-shriver/whether-that-s-speaking-up-in-your-job-or-asking-for-a-promotion-or/) [Maria Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-shriver/) > [Love cannot be had for the asking; it comes only as a gift from the heart of another](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/love-cannot-be-had-for-the-asking-it-comes-only-as-a-gift-from-the/) [Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/) > [The Baseball Hall of Fame is something every player dreams about, but being a member of God's Hall of Fame is the greatest achievement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-carter/the-baseball-hall-of-fame-is-something-every-player-dreams-about-but/) [Gary Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-carter/) > [“In such a regime, I say you died a good death if your life had inspired someone to come forward and shoot your murdered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chinua-achebe/in-such-a-regime-i-say-you-died-a-good-death-if-your-life-had/) [Chinua Achebe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chinua-achebe/) [Browse all 3,313 Asking quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asking/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Saints and ordinary folks are the same from the start. 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