--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Often, everywhere we look, we seem to…" description: "\"Often, everywhere we look, we seem to find obstacles and facades and smokescreens, so it was really nice to find things in the world that actually spok..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/687/jeff-mangum-16672_buddhism_often-everywhere-we-look-we-seem-to-find_2371583.jpg" --- # Often, everywhere we look, we seem to find obstacles and… ![“Often, everywhere we look, we seem to find obstacles and facades and smokescreens, so it was really nice to find things in the world that actually spoke to me. And I felt like Eastern thought really spoke to me. Because it isn't trying to cover up the pain in life; it's trying to deal with it and…” quote by Jeff Mangum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/687/jeff-mangum-16672_buddhism_often-everywhere-we-look-we-seem-to-find_2371583.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/687/jeff-mangum-16672_buddhism_often-everywhere-we-look-we-seem-to-find_2371583.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/687/jeff-mangum-16672_buddhism_often-everywhere-we-look-we-seem-to-find_2371583.jpg) > “Often, everywhere we look, we seem to find obstacles and facades and smokescreens, so it was really nice to find things in the world that actually spoke to me. And I felt like Eastern thought really spoke to me. Because it isn't trying to cover up the pain in life; it's trying to deal with it and overcome it in an intelligent way. I think the reason I love Eastern thought so much, and mysticism in general - but especially Buddhism - is because it seems to me an attempt to look life squarely in the face, as it is.” [Jeff Mangum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-mangum/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Eastern philosophies confront suffering directly, offering intelligent coping strategies rather than denial. **In simple terms:** Eastern thought faces pain head‑on. Key Takeaway Embrace honest reflection on hardship. Themes philosophy spirituality resilience Mood contemplative reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal crisis - grief - mental health - spiritual seeking Key Concepts Buddhism mindfulness existential honesty Questions to Reflect On - How do you apply this honest approach to daily challenges? - What aspects of Eastern thought feel most relevant to you? A Different Perspective May overlook cultural nuance or oversimplify complex traditions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Buddhism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhism/) [Eastern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eastern/) [Eastern Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eastern-thought-364005/) [Especially Buddhism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/especially-buddhism-987926/) [Facade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facade/) [Intelligent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligent/) [Mysticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mysticism/) [Nice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nice/) [Obstacles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obstacles/) [Overcoming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overcoming/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Pain in life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain-in-life/) [Really nice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really-nice/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/) [Thought Mysticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought-mysticism-5748163/) [Thought Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought-really/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“Reading this dialogue did something good for me. It made me think very hard about this book and revise my thinking about it, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-savage/reading-this-dialogue-did-something-good-for-me-it-made-me-think-very/) [Michael Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-savage/) > [I realized that Eastern thought had somewhat more compassion for all living things. Man was a form of life that in another reincarnation might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-o-douglas/i-realized-that-eastern-thought-had-somewhat-more-compassion-for-all/) [William O. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-o-douglas/) > [As Eastern thought has begun to interest a significant number of people, and meditation is no longer viewed with ridicule or suspicion, mysticism is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fritjof-capra/as-eastern-thought-has-begun-to-interest-a-significant-number-of/) [Fritjof Capra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fritjof-capra/) > [“Christianity and Buddhism are very much alike, especially Buddhism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/christianity-and-buddhism-are-very-much-alike-especially-buddhism/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [Students of popular science... are always insisting that Christianity and Buddhism are very much alike, especially Buddhism. This is generally believed, and I believed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/students-of-popular-science-are-always-insisting-that-christianity/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [“Christianity and Buddhism are a lot alike, especially Buddhism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/christianity-and-buddhism-are-a-lot-alike-especially-buddhism/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Pain in life is inevitable but suffering is not. Pain is what the world does to you, suffering is what you do to yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/pain-in-life-is-inevitable-but-suffering-is-not-pain-is-what-the/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [I don't mind if people don't like me. Well, I might a little ... but I really mind it when somebody uses their position…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/i-don-t-mind-if-people-don-t-like-me-well-i-might-a-little-but-i/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [The pain of life is pure salt; no more, no less. The amount of pain in life remains the same, exactly the same. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-nepo/the-pain-of-life-is-pure-salt-no-more-no-less-the-amount-of-pain-in/) [Mark Nepo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-nepo/) > [Pain is itself a god: the taskmaster of life. Pain cracks the whip, and all that lives will move. To live is to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/pain-is-itself-a-god-the-taskmaster-of-life-pain-cracks-the-whip-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Grief is neither a disorder nor a healing process; it is a sign of health itself, a whole and natural gesture of love. Nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-may/grief-is-neither-a-disorder-nor-a-healing-process-it-is-a-sign-of/) [Gerald May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-may/) > [I’ve always wanted to be liked. It grieved me that I was treated with indifference. Left an orphan by Fortune, I wanted—like all orphans—to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-pessoa/i-ve-always-wanted-to-be-liked-it-grieved-me-that-i-was-treated-with/) [Fernando Pessoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-pessoa/) > [There are two pains in life. There is the pain of discipline and the pain of disappointment. If you can handle the pain of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-saban/there-are-two-pains-in-life-there-is-the-pain-of-discipline-and-the/) [Nick Saban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-saban/) > [There's no such thing as addiction, there's only things that you enjoy doing more than life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-stanhope/there-s-no-such-thing-as-addiction-there-s-only-things-that-you-enjoy/) [Doug Stanhope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-stanhope/) > [Pain is meant to wake us up. People try to hide their pain. But they're wrong. Pain is something to carry, like a radio.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-morrison/pain-is-meant-to-wake-us-up-people-try-to-hide-their-pain-but-they-re/) [Jim Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-morrison/) ## More by Jeff Mangum > [You know, you struggle and cry and moan and thrash around and beat your head against the wall... and then you realize that you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-mangum/you-know-you-struggle-and-cry-and-moan-and-thrash-around-and-beat/) [Jeff Mangum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-mangum/) > [My songs pretty much revolve in my brain most of the time - usually, whatevers coming next.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-mangum/my-songs-pretty-much-revolve-in-my-brain-most-of-the-time-usually/) [Jeff Mangum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-mangum/) > [I bring a record home, and it connects with me like nothing else. In my ideal situation, somebody will do that with my record.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-mangum/i-bring-a-record-home-and-it-connects-with-me-like-nothing-else-in-my/) [Jeff Mangum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-mangum/) > [I guess my path feels sort of different now... I don't know what's going to happen, but I certainly want to make music a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-mangum/i-guess-my-path-feels-sort-of-different-now-i-don-t-know-what-s-going/) [Jeff Mangum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-mangum/) > [“And now a song for Jesus Christ and since this seems to confuse people I'd like to simply say that I mean what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-mangum/and-now-a-song-for-jesus-christ-and-since-this-seems-to-confuse/) [Jeff Mangum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-mangum/) > [Soft silly music is meaningful, magical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-mangum/soft-silly-music-is-meaningful-magical/) [Jeff Mangum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-mangum/) > [My songs pretty much revolve in my brain most of the time - usually, whatever's coming next.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-mangum/my-songs-pretty-much-revolve-in-my-brain-most-of-the-time-usually-2/) [Jeff Mangum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-mangum/) > [I spend a lot of time practicing active imagination before I go to sleep. What I'm feeling will manifest as images through active imagination.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-mangum/i-spend-a-lot-of-time-practicing-active-imagination-before-i-go-to/) [Jeff Mangum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-mangum/) > [I feel like we're so limited by the context at which we look at life. The way we look at who we're supposed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-mangum/i-feel-like-we-re-so-limited-by-the-context-at-which-we-look-at-life/) [Jeff Mangum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-mangum/) > [I'm trying to find peace in the world, as it is. I'm feeling this sort of slow stripping of my mind, like the layers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-mangum/i-m-trying-to-find-peace-in-the-world-as-it-is-i-m-feeling-this-sort/) [Jeff Mangum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-mangum/) > [The music is supposed to be healing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-mangum/the-music-is-supposed-to-be-healing/) [Jeff Mangum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-mangum/) > [I think the songs I was writing after Aeroplane were full of a lot of undealt-with pain that was just a little too big...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-mangum/i-think-the-songs-i-was-writing-after-aeroplane-were-full-of-a-lot-of/) [Jeff Mangum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-mangum/) > [When I tried to grasp at either what I love or what I hate, I destroyed the very ability of being able to really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-mangum/when-i-tried-to-grasp-at-either-what-i-love-or-what-i-hate-i/) [Jeff Mangum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-mangum/) > [The songs sort of come out spontaneously and it'll take me awhile to figure out what exactly is happening lyrically, what kind of story…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-mangum/the-songs-sort-of-come-out-spontaneously-and-it-ll-take-me-awhile-to/) [Jeff Mangum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-mangum/) > [I love the idea of a record containing an entire universe; where the sounds span decades of recording from all over the world and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-mangum/i-love-the-idea-of-a-record-containing-an-entire-universe-where-the/) [Jeff Mangum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-mangum/) [Explore all 39 Jeff Mangum quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-mangum/) ## More Buddhism quotes > [There are places that are very draining. There are places where there is another dimensional crossover but to a dimension that is not powerful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/there-are-places-that-are-very-draining-there-are-places-where-there/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Enlightenment is lightening up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-myers/enlightenment-is-lightening-up/) [Mike Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-myers/) > [The very best players, when they are practicing, put everything they've got into it. But then they leave it for a while. And it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/the-very-best-players-when-they-are-practicing-put-everything-they-ve/) [Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/) > [Everyone will admire you when you do well. What a horrible thing to do to someone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/everyone-will-admire-you-when-you-do-well-what-a-horrible-thing-to-do/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Nirvana is a word that means enlightenment, being beyond the illusion of birth and death, the illusion of pain, the illusion of love, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/nirvana-is-a-word-that-means-enlightenment-being-beyond-the-illusion/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I think the most miraculous thing is learning. I get out of the way and let the students learn. Then you get to watch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/i-think-the-most-miraculous-thing-is-learning-i-get-out-of-the-way/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“Exactly. I think the original tantric Buddhists took notice of was some very wise old people who never studied in their youth, but took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-niemczura/exactly-i-think-the-original-tantric-buddhists-took-notice-of-was/) [Joe Niemczura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-niemczura/) > [A human being can only absorb a small amount of the mystical kundalini, you can be exposed again and again to it, but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/a-human-being-can-only-absorb-a-small-amount-of-the-mystical/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [One of the things I regret about not putting in that book or I think it's there but I didn't really elaborate on it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-warner/one-of-the-things-i-regret-about-not-putting-in-that-book-or-i-think/) [Brad Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-warner/) > [My mom and my aunties are really devout Christians. My mom married a Muslim when I was 12, so I got teachings from both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tech-n9ne/my-mom-and-my-aunties-are-really-devout-christians-my-mom-married-a/) [Tech N9ne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tech-n9ne/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“The extraction of discrete parts of Chöd teachings from their broader philosophical contexts is symptomatic of how Chöd has been incorporated into and transmitted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-sorensen/the-extraction-of-discrete-parts-of-ch-d-teachings-from-their-broader/) [Michelle Sorensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-sorensen/) > [Buddhism advises you not to implant feelings that you don’t really have or avoid feelings that you do have. If you are miserable you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/buddhism-advises-you-not-to-implant-feelings-that-you-don-t-really/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“That's all there is, enlightenment on the end of a cock. It doesn't get any more Zen than that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaden-wilkes/that-s-all-there-is-enlightenment-on-the-end-of-a-cock-it-doesn-t-get/) [Jaden Wilkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaden-wilkes/) > [Aging is like enlightenment at gunpoint. Before I had cancer, I lived my life for my art. After I had cancer, I lived my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-halprin/aging-is-like-enlightenment-at-gunpoint-before-i-had-cancer-i-lived/) [Anna Halprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-halprin/) [Browse all 6,100 Buddhism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Often, everywhere we look, we seem to find obstacles and facades and smokescreens, so it was really nice to find things in the world that actually spoke to me. And I felt like Eastern thought really spoke to me. Because it isn't trying to cover up the pain in life; it's trying to deal with it and overcome it in an intelligent way. I think the reason I love Eastern thought so much, and mysticism in general - but especially Buddhism - is because it seems to me an attempt to look life squarely in the face, as it is.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jeff Mangum" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-mangum/often-everywhere-we-look-we-seem-to-find-obstacles-and-facades-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Buddhism" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-mangum/often-everywhere-we-look-we-seem-to-find-obstacles-and-facades-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/687/jeff-mangum-16672_buddhism_often-everywhere-we-look-we-seem-to-find_2371583.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/687/jeff-mangum-16672_buddhism_often-everywhere-we-look-we-seem-to-find_2371583.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/687/jeff-mangum-16672_buddhism_often-everywhere-we-look-we-seem-to-find_2371583.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Often, everywhere we look, we seem to find obstacles and facades and smokescreens, so it was really nice to…” — Jeff Mangum", "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": "Jeff Mangum", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-mangum/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Often, everywhere we look, we seem...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-mangum/often-everywhere-we-look-we-seem-to-find-obstacles-and-facades-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-mangum/often-everywhere-we-look-we-seem-to-find-obstacles-and-facades-and/#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 } } ] } ```