Psychology Quote by Kaiten Nukariya
![“Idle thoughts come and go over unenlightened minds six hundred and fifty times in a snap of one's fingers," writes an Indian teacher,[FN#260] "and thirteen hundred million times every twenty-four hours." This might be an exaggeration, yet we cannot but acknowledge that one idle thought after…” quote by Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/abe/kaiten-nukariya-793_psychology_idle-thoughts-come-and-go-over-unenlight_272679.jpg)
““Idle thoughts come and go over unenlightened minds six hundred and fifty times in a snap of one's fingers," writes an Indian teacher,[FN#260] "and thirteen hundred million times every twenty-four hours." This might be an exaggeration, yet we cannot but acknowledge that one idle thought after another ceaselessly bubbles up in the stream of consciousness. "Dhyana is the letting go," continues the writer—"that is to say, the letting go of the thirteen hundred million of idle thoughts." The very root of these thirteen hundred million idle thoughts is an illusion about one's self. He is indeed the poorest creature, even if he be in heaven, who thinks himself poor. On the contrary, he is an angel who thinks himself hopeful and happy, even though he be in hell.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Unknown Indian spiritual text, citation FN#260
Idle thoughts proliferate endlessly, creating illusionary self‑concepts that trap consciousness.
In simple terms: Idle thoughts flood the mind, forming false self‑images.
Key Takeaway
Practice letting go to quiet the mind.
Themes
mindfulness
self‑identity
illusion
consciousness
Mood
reflective
calm
Type
philosophical
spiritual
When to use this quote
- daily meditation
- journaling
- mindful breathing
- therapy
- spiritual retreats
Key Concepts
Meditation
self‑inquiry
cognitive diffusion
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you recognize when a thought is merely idle?
- What practices help you release mental chatter?
A Different Perspective
The quote may overstate frequency; not all idle thoughts are harmful.
![“Rin-zai also says: "Spirit is formless, but it penetrates through the world in the ten directions."[FN#149] The Sixth Patriarch expresses the same idea more explicitly: "What creates the phenomena is Mind; what transcends all the phenomena is Buddha."[FN#150]” quote by Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d4e/kaiten-nukariya-793_spirit-formless_rin-zai-also-says-spirit-is-formless-but_13012.jpg)
![“it is the overcoming of egoism, the destroying of mean desires, the uplifting of the moral ideal, and the disclosing of inborn wisdom. [FN#12]” quote by Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3ae/kaiten-nukariya-793_egoism_it-is-the-overcoming-of-egoism-the-destr_46308.jpg)
![“The fourth stage is called the Rank of Co-operative Merit,[FN#273] in which the student 'co-operates' with other persons in order to complete his merit. Now, he is not compared with a general who conquers his foe, but with the prime-minister who co-operates with other officials to the benefit of…” quote by Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4a6/kaiten-nukariya-793_quote_the-fourth-stage-is-called-the-rank-of-c_48041.jpg){kind=icon}
