--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Non-attachment is not complacency. It…" description: "\"“Non-attachment is not complacency. It doesn't imply a lack of caring and commitment. The philosophy of non-attachment is based in the understanding th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a56/lama-surya-das-16324_compassion_non-attachment-is-not-complacency-it-doe_395524.jpg" --- # Non-attachment is not complacency. It doesn't imply a lack… ![“Non-attachment is not complacency. It doesn't imply a lack of caring and commitment. The philosophy of non-attachment is based in the understanding that holding on too tightly to those things, which in any case are always going to be slipping through our fingers, hurts and gives us rope burn.” quote by Lama Surya Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a56/lama-surya-das-16324_compassion_non-attachment-is-not-complacency-it-doe_395524.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a56/lama-surya-das-16324_compassion_non-attachment-is-not-complacency-it-doe_395524.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a56/lama-surya-das-16324_compassion_non-attachment-is-not-complacency-it-doe_395524.jpg) > ““Non-attachment is not complacency. It doesn't imply a lack of caring and commitment. The philosophy of non-attachment is based in the understanding that holding on too tightly to those things, which in any case are always going to be slipping through our fingers, hurts and gives us rope burn.”” [Lama Surya Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lama-surya-das/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Non‑attachment means caring without clinging; letting go prevents suffering and frees us from endless struggle. **In simple terms:** Care without clinging avoids suffering. Key Takeaway Practice letting go. Themes spirituality mindfulness freedom Mood calm insightful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - meditation - relationship challenges - grief coping Key Concepts non‑attachment impermanence compassion Questions to Reflect On - How do you stay caring while practicing non‑attachment? - What does “rope burn” feel like in daily life? A Different Perspective Non‑attachment can be misinterpreted as indifference, leading to disengagement. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Complacency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/complacency/) [Non attachment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/non-attachment/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) ## Related quotes > [Complacency doesn't make sense for a guy trying to redefine normal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fairclough/complacency-doesn-t-make-sense-for-a-guy-trying-to-redefine-normal/) [John Fairclough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fairclough/) > [“Mindfulness & Meditation help focus on the moment while at the same time knowing we cannot capture that moment, we are in a flow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-woodman/mindfulness-meditation-help-focus-on-the-moment-while-at-the-same/) [Jay Woodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-woodman/) > [To remain attached to the temporal, to the changing is to remain within the world of misery because the temporal will be taken away.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/to-remain-attached-to-the-temporal-to-the-changing-is-to-remain/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [“It is impossible to control outcomes or results, although most of us have been programmed from a very young age to believe otherwise. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-dines/it-is-impossible-to-control-outcomes-or-results-although-most-of-us/) [Christopher Dines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-dines/) > [“You find in Krishna that non-attachment is the central idea.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/you-find-in-krishna-that-non-attachment-is-the-central-idea/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [Be willing to not be attached to your own view of things, and everything is revealed, everything takes on its proper perspective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-premodaya/be-willing-to-not-be-attached-to-your-own-view-of-things-and/) [Swami Premodaya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-premodaya/) > [Become alert about desire and non-attachment begins to appear. This is not to be made to happen, it follows naturally from awareness of attachment.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/become-alert-about-desire-and-non-attachment-begins-to-appear-this-is/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [“More and more obstacles seem to be other people's issues that form in the way of a hand to block one, to take notice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-althouse/more-and-more-obstacles-seem-to-be-other-people-s-issues-that-form-in/) [Tom Althouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-althouse/) > [“We are allowed to worship him. Stand in that reverent attitude to the whole universe, and then will come perfect non attachment”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/we-are-allowed-to-worship-him-stand-in-that-reverent-attitude-to-the/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [“Among this bewildering multiplicity of ideals which shall we choose? The answer is that we shall choose none. For it is clear that each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/among-this-bewildering-multiplicity-of-ideals-which-shall-we-choose/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [“There is no more destructive force in human affairs -- not greed, not hatred -- than the desire to have been right. Non-attachment to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-a-r-kleiman/there-is-no-more-destructive-force-in-human-affairs-not-greed-not/) Mark A.R. Kleiman > [The fear side can have us pull away and protect us, but it's really a withdrawal, a disassociation, a cutting off. Rather than the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-brach/the-fear-side-can-have-us-pull-away-and-protect-us-but-it-s-really-a/) [Tara Brach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-brach/) > [“My goal is not to upset the apple cart, but to make it more accessible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-althouse/my-goal-is-not-to-upset-the-apple-cart-but-to-make-it-more-accessible/) [Tom Althouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-althouse/) > [Non-attachment doesn't mean you are aloof, uncaring, or don't have things. It's about coming into right relationship with everyone and everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/non-attachment-doesn-t-mean-you-are-aloof-uncaring-or-don-t-have/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [“As an empath, it’s vital that you learn how to hold space for your emotions, even the most painful ones. By anchoring yourself in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mateo-sol/as-an-empath-it-s-vital-that-you-learn-how-to-hold-space-for-your/) [Mateo Sol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mateo-sol/) ## More by Lama Surya Das > [“As long as we’re preoccupied with our former traumas and triumphs, or our fears and dreams about what might happen down the road, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lama-surya-das/as-long-as-we-re-preoccupied-with-our-former-traumas-and-triumphs-or/) [Lama Surya Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lama-surya-das/) > [“It is not the outer objects that entangle us. It is the inner clinging that entangles us." - Tilopa”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lama-surya-das/it-is-not-the-outer-objects-that-entangle-us-it-is-the-inner-clinging/) [Lama Surya Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lama-surya-das/) > [“I have been thinking that the crux of happiness matter for me is whether or not I am in the moment, in the flow,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lama-surya-das/i-have-been-thinking-that-the-crux-of-happiness-matter-for-me-is/) [Lama Surya Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lama-surya-das/) > [“All the happiness and virtue in this world come from selflessness and generosity, all the sorrow from egotism, selfishness, and greed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lama-surya-das/all-the-happiness-and-virtue-in-this-world-come-from-selflessness-and/) [Lama Surya Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lama-surya-das/) > [“We need to learn how to live consciously and, trusting ourselves, purposefully on that inevitable balance point between form and emptiness, relative and absolute,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lama-surya-das/we-need-to-learn-how-to-live-consciously-and-trusting-ourselves/) [Lama Surya Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lama-surya-das/) > [“All too easily, however, we can become distracted, scared, frustrated, gullible, cynical, or just plain inattentive. We suppress our natural questing spirit. We plow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lama-surya-das/all-too-easily-however-we-can-become-distracted-scared-frustrated/) [Lama Surya Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lama-surya-das/) > [“By meditating, we´re learning to disengage ourselves from habitual clinging and disperse the defilements and obscurations that hinder our capacity to serve others, such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lama-surya-das/by-meditating-we-re-learning-to-disengage-ourselves-from-habitual/) [Lama Surya Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lama-surya-das/) > [“We all have certain desires and undesired outcomes related to whatever possible course and attitude we take in life, whether it be at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lama-surya-das/we-all-have-certain-desires-and-undesired-outcomes-related-to/) [Lama Surya Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lama-surya-das/) > [“Partings make us sad; they make us feel as though we are being beaten up by fate; sometimes they make us feel desperate and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lama-surya-das/partings-make-us-sad-they-make-us-feel-as-though-we-are-being-beaten/) [Lama Surya Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lama-surya-das/) > [“With every breath, the old moment is lost; a new moment arrives. We exhale and we let go of the old moment. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lama-surya-das/with-every-breath-the-old-moment-is-lost-a-new-moment-arrives-we/) [Lama Surya Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lama-surya-das/) > [“So often we mistake movement for meaning.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lama-surya-das/so-often-we-mistake-movement-for-meaning/) [Lama Surya Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lama-surya-das/) > [“If you truly want to grow as a person and learn, you should realize that the universe has enrolled you in the graduate program…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lama-surya-das/if-you-truly-want-to-grow-as-a-person-and-learn-you-should-realize-2/) [Lama Surya Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lama-surya-das/) > [“Expecting good things to last and unwanted things to stay away forever is simply unrealistic,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lama-surya-das/expecting-good-things-to-last-and-unwanted-things-to-stay-away/) [Lama Surya Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lama-surya-das/) > [“We must never confuse the teacher with the truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lama-surya-das/we-must-never-confuse-the-teacher-with-the-truth/) [Lama Surya Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lama-surya-das/) > [“With every breath, the old moment is lost; a new moment arrives.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lama-surya-das/with-every-breath-the-old-moment-is-lost-a-new-moment-arrives/) [Lama Surya Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lama-surya-das/) [Explore all 40 Lama Surya Das quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lama-surya-das/) ## More Compassion quotes > [Half the misery of human life might be extinguished if men would alleviate the general curse they lie under by mutual offices of compassion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/half-the-misery-of-human-life-might-be-extinguished-if-men-would/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [“I fight with love and kindness as my weapons and compassion as my defense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/i-fight-with-love-and-kindness-as-my-weapons-and-compassion-as-my/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [I really enjoy making people laugh; I've discovered that's a great technique. That's as powerful as stirring their sorrow, stirring their compassion, because that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-really-enjoy-making-people-laugh-i-ve-discovered-that-s-a-great/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [“If you refuse to use physical force, then you will be at the mercy of your oppressor!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/segun-magbagbeola/if-you-refuse-to-use-physical-force-then-you-will-be-at-the-mercy-of/) Segun Magbagbeola > [For some reason, we are truly convinced that if we criticize ourselves, the criticism will lead to change. If we are harsh, we believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/for-some-reason-we-are-truly-convinced-that-if-we-criticize-ourselves/) [Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/) > [I could not have slept tonight if I had left that helpless little creature to perish on the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-could-not-have-slept-tonight-if-i-had-left-that-helpless-little/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [We are puzzled and bewildered whenever we see suffering in this world because we have become accustomed to the mercy and the long-suffering of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/we-are-puzzled-and-bewildered-whenever-we-see-suffering-in-this-world/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [“Helpers in every corner, helpers in every hood. That's how we'll make the move, to reform from rude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/helpers-in-every-corner-helpers-in-every-hood-that-s-how-we-ll-make/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [There are a number of qualities which are important for mental peace, but from the little experience I have, I believe that one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/there-are-a-number-of-qualities-which-are-important-for-mental-peace/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [May the gods have mercy on whoever pisses them off, because Zarek and Jericho will have none for them. (Madoc) You’d better be glad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/may-the-gods-have-mercy-on-whoever-pisses-them-off-because-zarek-and/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [When you need empathy, you cannot give empathy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/when-you-need-empathy-you-cannot-give-empathy/) [Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/) > [But victimhood was seductive, a release from responsibility and caring. Fear would be transmuted into weary resignation; failure would no longer generate guilt but,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/but-victimhood-was-seductive-a-release-from-responsibility-and-caring/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [“No one has any right to tell you that the way you perceive yourself is wrong. Because by doing so, they also discourage the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/no-one-has-any-right-to-tell-you-that-the-way-you-perceive-yourself/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [“la ilaha ilallah muhammadun rasulullah, alaihi salatullah wa alihi wal ahibba "shine your mercy like the sun, and be gracious as the earth let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-al-habib/la-ilaha-ilallah-muhammadun-rasulullah-alaihi-salatullah-wa-alihi-wal/) Talib al Habib > [The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/the-love-for-all-living-creatures-is-the-most-noble-attribute-of-man/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) [Browse all 9,892 Compassion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Non-attachment is not complacency. 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