---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Idle thoughts come and go over…"
description: "\"“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 thi..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abe/kaiten-nukariya-793_psychology_idle-thoughts-come-and-go-over-unenlight_272679.jpg"
---

#  Idle thoughts come and go over unenlightened minds six…

![“Idle thoughts come and go over unenlightened minds six hundred and fifty times in a snap of one's fingers,&quot; writes an Indian teacher,&#91;FN#260&#93; &quot;and thirteen hundred million times every twenty-four hours.&quot; This might be an exaggeration, yet we cannot but acknowledge that one idle thought after…” quote by Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abe/kaiten-nukariya-793_psychology_idle-thoughts-come-and-go-over-unenlight_272679.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abe/kaiten-nukariya-793_psychology_idle-thoughts-come-and-go-over-unenlight_272679.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/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.””

[Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

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.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Stream of consciousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stream-of-consciousness/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/)

## Related quotes

> [There is no more self-contradictory concept than that of idle thoughts. What gives rise to the perception of a whole world can hardly be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/there-is-no-more-self-contradictory-concept-than-that-of-idle/)

[Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/)

> [“So do you think that words, like thoughts are an illusion?” “And, what else . . .?” Asked Zhang. “All perception is an illusion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-ringel/so-do-you-think-that-words-like-thoughts-are-an-illusion-and-what/)

[Jeanette Ringel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-ringel/)

> [Purge your mind of all aimless and idle thoughts, especially those that pry into the affairs of others or wish them ill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/purge-your-mind-of-all-aimless-and-idle-thoughts-especially-those/)

[Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/)

> [There are no idle thoughts. All thinking produces form at some level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-schucman/there-are-no-idle-thoughts-all-thinking-produces-form-at-some-level/)

[Helen Schucman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-schucman/)

> [“The battleground is between our ears. What is it that is capturing your idle thoughts? What fear or frustration is filling your spare moments?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mathis/the-battleground-is-between-our-ears-what-is-it-that-is-capturing/)

[David Mathis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mathis/)

> [Am not intelligent but am an individual who refuses to let his mind dwell in idle thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-matobo/am-not-intelligent-but-am-an-individual-who-refuses-to-let-his-mind/)

[Frank Matobo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-matobo/)

> [“Love is stronger than both fear and hope - if you can love the natural beauty around you, the amazing gifts and skills we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-woodman/love-is-stronger-than-both-fear-and-hope-if-you-can-love-the-natural/)

[Jay Woodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-woodman/)

> [“perhaps it will I said perhaps it will be wonderful perhaps even though it won't be like you think perhaps that won't matter perhaps”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lodge/perhaps-it-will-i-said-perhaps-it-will-be-wonderful-perhaps-even/)

[David Lodge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lodge/)

> [“Sparkling bronze azure eyed Blazure's skyblue bow and eyes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/sparkling-bronze-azure-eyed-blazure-s-skyblue-bow-and-eyes/)

[James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/)

> [“sunset and evening star hunching and bending sleeping and slipping virus pneumonia coughing and crying hope in the small things heaven looks brighter aching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chila-woychik/sunset-and-evening-star-hunching-and-bending-sleeping-and-slipping/)

[Chila Woychik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chila-woychik/)

> [“City was crowded Oh my My so many people Getting on Almost squeezed in the boat People once too many Tahu where was she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehreen-ahmed/city-was-crowded-oh-my-my-so-many-people-getting-on-almost-squeezed/)

[Mehreen Ahmed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehreen-ahmed/)

> [“be the calm eye of the storm where nothing phases you, focus on your centre to remain balanced, let your life flow like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-woodman/be-the-calm-eye-of-the-storm-where-nothing-phases-you-focus-on-your/)

[Jay Woodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-woodman/)

> [I work a lot with sounds based on stream of consciousness. I like the way it sounds, then I turn it into something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-van-etten/i-work-a-lot-with-sounds-based-on-stream-of-consciousness-i-like-the/)

[Sharon Van Etten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-van-etten/)

> [We are all pilgrims on an elusive and endless road... Despite our attempts to build lives on stone foundations, our spirits continuously flow. Endless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-lawlor/we-are-all-pilgrims-on-an-elusive-and-endless-road-despite-our/)

[Anthony Lawlor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-lawlor/)

> [“I cite too the ordinary fears of mortality the inspection of a fast-growing mole on the side of the nose blood in the stool…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-doctorow-2/i-cite-too-the-ordinary-fears-of-mortality-the-inspection-of-a-fast/)

[E.L. Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-doctorow-2/)

## More by Kaiten Nukariya

> [“the new theory of matter has entirely over thrown the old conception of the unchanging atoms, and they are now regarded to be composed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/the-new-theory-of-matter-has-entirely-over-thrown-the-old-conception/)

[Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/)

> [“5. Nature is the Mother of All Things. Furthermore, man has come into existence out of Nature. He is her child. She provided him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/5-nature-is-the-mother-of-all-things-furthermore-man-has-come-into/)

[Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/)

> [ “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… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/rin-zai-also-says-spirit-is-formless-but-it-penetrates-through-the/)

[Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/)

> [“(O-yo-mei) won a splendid victory over the rebel army which threatened the throne of the Ming dynasty. During that warfare Wang was giving a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/o-yo-mei-won-a-splendid-victory-over-the-rebel-army-which-threatened/)

[Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/)

> [“in the use of the terms 'good' and 'bad.' Now let us examine how does good differ from bad. A good action ever promotes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/in-the-use-of-the-terms-good-and-bad-now-let-us-examine-how-does-good/)

[Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/)

> [“Although all sentient beings are endowed with this Enlightened Consciousness, they are not aware of its existence, excepting men who can discover it by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/although-all-sentient-beings-are-endowed-with-this-enlightened/)

[Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/)

> [“There are a good many people always buoyant in spirit and mirthful in appearance as if born optimists. There are also no fewer persons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/there-are-a-good-many-people-always-buoyant-in-spirit-and-mirthful-in/)

[Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/)

> [ “it is the overcoming of egoism, the destroying of mean desires, the uplifting of the moral ideal, and the disclosing of inborn wisdom. \[FN#12\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/it-is-the-overcoming-of-egoism-the-destroying-of-mean-desires-the/)

[Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/)

> [ “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.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/the-fourth-stage-is-called-the-rank-of-co-operative-merit-fn-273-in/)

[Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/)

> [“It is bare nonsense to say that I go to school, not to be educated as a member of society, but simply to gratify…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/it-is-bare-nonsense-to-say-that-i-go-to-school-not-to-be-educated-as/)

[Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/)

> [“8. The Application of the Law of Causation to Morals. Although it may be needless to state here the law of causation at any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/8-the-application-of-the-law-of-causation-to-morals-although-it-may/)

[Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/)

> [“Men of longevity never carried troubles to their beds.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/men-of-longevity-never-carried-troubles-to-their-beds/)

[Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/)

> [ “2. The Errors of Philosophical Pessimists and Religious Optimists. Philosophical pessimists\[FN#214\] maintain that there are on earth many more causes of pain than of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/2-the-errors-of-philosophical-pessimists-and-religious-optimists/)

[Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/)

> [ “4. Man is neither Good-natured nor Bad-natured according to Su Shih (So-shoku).\[FN#164\] The difficulty may be avoided by a theory given by Su Shih… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/4-man-is-neither-good-natured-nor-bad-natured-according-to-su-shih-so/)

[Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/)

> [“Over against these generalizations we raise no objection, but there are many cases, in practical life, of doubtful nature. An act of charity, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/over-against-these-generalizations-we-raise-no-objection-but-there/)

[Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/)

[Explore all 367 Kaiten Nukariya quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/)

## More Psychology quotes

> [It appears to me that one great cause of our difference in opinion on subjects which we often discuss is that you have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ricardo/it-appears-to-me-that-one-great-cause-of-our-difference-in-opinion-on/)

[David Ricardo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ricardo/)

> [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/)

[Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/)

> [Once ye made up yer mind to do somethin', 'tis better t'stumble o'er the small hillock of jump-ahead than t'bash yer head on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/once-ye-made-up-yer-mind-to-do-somethin-tis-better-t-stumble-o-er-the/)

[Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/)

> [“Not that it matters, when you dream, there's no outside or in. Your mind is an unimaginable bloom. A willow catkin as big as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-shapero/not-that-it-matters-when-you-dream-there-s-no-outside-or-in-your-mind/)

[Rich Shapero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-shapero/)

> [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/)

[Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/)

> [I love playing for my country, getting the support. Especially for the kids and everybody, showing my example of what I can achieve so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-sharapova/i-love-playing-for-my-country-getting-the-support-especially-for-the/)

[Maria Sharapova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-sharapova/)

> [Do you think that God would separate me from my husband if I killed myself? I feel as though I am going out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-you-think-that-god-would-separate-me-from-my-husband-if-i-killed/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/)

[Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/)

> [This is a proof of a well-trained mind, to rejoice in what is good and to grieve at the opposite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/this-is-a-proof-of-a-well-trained-mind-to-rejoice-in-what-is-good-and/)

[Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/)

> [“I had nowhere to go and did not wish to be seen by anyone for fear they would recognize my sadness and so for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-dewitt/i-had-nowhere-to-go-and-did-not-wish-to-be-seen-by-anyone-for-fear/)

[Patrick deWitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-dewitt/)

> [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/)

[Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/)

> [“As dreams are the healing songs from the wilderness of our unconscious - So wild animals, wild plants, wild landscapes are the healing dreams…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-pendell/as-dreams-are-the-healing-songs-from-the-wilderness-of-our/)

[Dale Pendell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-pendell/)

> [Music is a job, but I figured out ways to get my mind into a place where I could be creative. I actually discovered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flume/music-is-a-job-but-i-figured-out-ways-to-get-my-mind-into-a-place/)

[Flume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flume/)

> [ “\[S\]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-the-possible-irrelevance-of/)

[Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/)

> [No!! Get out of my Head!...You may have invaded my mind and my body...But there's one thing a Saiyan always keeps...his PRIDE!!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dragon-ball-z/no-get-out-of-my-head-you-may-have-invaded-my-mind-and-my-body-but/)

[Dragon Ball Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dragon-ball-z/)

[Browse all 56,059 Psychology quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“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.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Kaiten Nukariya"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/idle-thoughts-come-and-go-over-unenlightened-minds-six-hundred-and/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Psychology"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/idle-thoughts-come-and-go-over-unenlightened-minds-six-hundred-and/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abe/kaiten-nukariya-793_psychology_idle-thoughts-come-and-go-over-unenlight_272679.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abe/kaiten-nukariya-793_psychology_idle-thoughts-come-and-go-over-unenlight_272679.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abe/kaiten-nukariya-793_psychology_idle-thoughts-come-and-go-over-unenlight_272679.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Idle thoughts come and go over unenlightened minds six hundred and fifty times in a snap of one's fingers,\"…” — Kaiten Nukariya",
                "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": "Kaiten Nukariya",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Idle thoughts come and go over...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/idle-thoughts-come-and-go-over-unenlightened-minds-six-hundred-and/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/idle-thoughts-come-and-go-over-unenlightened-minds-six-hundred-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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
