--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Strong and healthy, who thinks of…" description: "\"Strong and healthy, who thinks of sickness until it strikes like lightning? Preoccupied with the world, who thinks of death, until it arrives like thun..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/219/milarepa-17664_buddhist_strong-and-healthy-who-thinks-of-sicknes_1018969.png" --- # Strong and healthy, who thinks of sickness until it… ![“Strong and healthy, who thinks of sickness until it strikes like lightning? Preoccupied with the world, who thinks of death, until it arrives like thunder?” quote by Milarepa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/219/milarepa-17664_buddhist_strong-and-healthy-who-thinks-of-sicknes_1018969.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/219/milarepa-17664_buddhist_strong-and-healthy-who-thinks-of-sicknes_1018969.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/219/milarepa-17664_buddhist_strong-and-healthy-who-thinks-of-sicknes_1018969.png) > “Strong and healthy, who thinks of sickness until it strikes like lightning? Preoccupied with the world, who thinks of death, until it arrives like thunder?” [Milarepa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milarepa/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The poem questions those preoccupied with illness or death, urging focus on present reality. **In simple terms:** Don’t let fear of sickness or death dominate your thoughts. Key Takeaway Live mindfully, free from obsessive worries. Themes mortality health mindfulness Mood contemplative serene Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - daily meditation - health anxieties - end‑of‑life planning - stress management Key Concepts impermanence attachment spiritual awareness Questions to Reflect On - How can you shift attention from future fears to present actions? - What practices help reduce anxiety about health and death? A Different Perspective Obsessive focus can impair quality of life. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Buddhist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhist/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Lightning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lightning/) [Sickness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sickness/) [Strikes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strikes/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Thunder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thunder/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [If you ride like lightning, you're gonna crash like thunder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mendelsohn/if-you-ride-like-lightning-you-re-gonna-crash-like-thunder/) [Ben Mendelsohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mendelsohn/) > [Thought can never capture the movement of life, it is much too slow. It is like lightning and thunder. They occur simultaneously, but sound,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/u-g-krishnamurti/thought-can-never-capture-the-movement-of-life-it-is-much-too-slow-it/) [U.G. Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/u-g-krishnamurti/) > [Move like a beam of light: fly like lightning, strike like thunder, whirl in circles around a stable center](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morihei-ueshiba/move-like-a-beam-of-light-fly-like-lightning-strike-like-thunder/) [Morihei Ueshiba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morihei-ueshiba/) > [Jesus, in His earth walk, was the will of God in action. If you want to know what God thinks about sickness - look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-e-hagin/jesus-in-his-earth-walk-was-the-will-of-god-in-action-if-you-want-to/) [Kenneth E. Hagin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-e-hagin/) > [“Tears are my joy to hide my pain; like thunder hides the sound of rain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/munia-khan/tears-are-my-joy-to-hide-my-pain-like-thunder-hides-the-sound-of-rain/) [Munia Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/munia-khan/) > [“Brainstorm until your dreams roll in like thunder & your passion strikes with the love in your eyes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-tyrone-jones/brainstorm-until-your-dreams-roll-in-like-thunder-your-passion/) [Curtis Tyrone Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-tyrone-jones/) > [Being without you is like, thunder in my head, lightning in my eyes, and a cloud of knives raining down on me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelsie-honaker/being-without-you-is-like-thunder-in-my-head-lightning-in-my-eyes-and/) Kelsie Honaker > [Sometimes the silence can be like thunder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/sometimes-the-silence-can-be-like-thunder/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [“Hard times are like thunder. They make a lot of noise but do little harm. Don’t fear hard times.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/hard-times-are-like-thunder-they-make-a-lot-of-noise-but-do-little/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [Laughing like children, living like lovers, rolling like thunder, under the covers, and I guess that's why they call it the blues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/laughing-like-children-living-like-lovers-rolling-like-thunder-under/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [As the dawn comes up like thunder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudyard-kipling/as-the-dawn-comes-up-like-thunder/) [Rudyard Kipling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudyard-kipling/) > [When you are strong and healthy, You never think of sickness coming, But it descends with sudden force, Like a stroke of lightning. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milarepa/when-you-are-strong-and-healthy-you-never-think-of-sickness-coming/) [Milarepa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milarepa/) > [The middle years of life come on like thunder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nellie-l-mcclung/the-middle-years-of-life-come-on-like-thunder/) [Nellie L. McClung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nellie-l-mcclung/) > [“You held me down, but I got up Hey! Alrighty brushing off the dust You hear my voice You hear that sound Like thunder…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-perry/you-held-me-down-but-i-got-up-hey-alrighty-brushing-off-the-dust-you/) [Katy Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-perry/) > [If I see one kid dressed up like Thunder or Lightning or Black Lightning, I'll feel like I influenced the culture in a very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salim-akil/if-i-see-one-kid-dressed-up-like-thunder-or-lightning-or-black/) [Salim Akil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salim-akil/) ## More by Milarepa > [All worldly pursuits have but one unavoidable and inevitable end, which is sorrow; acquisitions end in dispersion; buildings in destruction; meetings in separation; births…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milarepa/all-worldly-pursuits-have-but-one-unavoidable-and-inevitable-end/) [Milarepa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milarepa/) > [In the gap between thoughts nonconceptual wisdom shines continuously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milarepa/in-the-gap-between-thoughts-nonconceptual-wisdom-shines-continuously/) [Milarepa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milarepa/) > [Desires achieved increase thirst like salt water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milarepa/desires-achieved-increase-thirst-like-salt-water/) [Milarepa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milarepa/) > [Do not entertain hopes for realization, but practice all your life..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milarepa/do-not-entertain-hopes-for-realization-but-practice-all-your-life/) [Milarepa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milarepa/) > [Awakening to voidness of one's mind and illusory grasping of consciousness appear to be alike, but don't be hoodwinked.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milarepa/awakening-to-voidness-of-one-s-mind-and-illusory-grasping-of/) [Milarepa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milarepa/) > [Life is short and the time of death is uncertain; so apply yourself to meditation. Avoid doing evil, and acquire merit, to the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milarepa/life-is-short-and-the-time-of-death-is-uncertain-so-apply-yourself-to/) [Milarepa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milarepa/) > [The affairs of the world will go on forever, do not delay the practice of meditation. Once you have met with the profound instructions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milarepa/the-affairs-of-the-world-will-go-on-forever-do-not-delay-the-practice/) [Milarepa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milarepa/) > [One should see that all appearance is like mist and fog.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milarepa/one-should-see-that-all-appearance-is-like-mist-and-fog/) [Milarepa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milarepa/) > [All worldly pursuits have but one unavoidable and inevitable end, which is sorrow; acquisitions end in dispersion; buildings in destruction; meetings in separation; births…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milarepa/all-worldly-pursuits-have-but-one-unavoidable-and-inevitable-end-2/) [Milarepa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milarepa/) > [To attain Buddhahood ... we must scatter this life's aims and objects to the wind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milarepa/to-attain-buddhahood-we-must-scatter-this-life-s-aims-and-objects-to/) [Milarepa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milarepa/) > [I need nothing. I seek nothing. I desire nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milarepa/i-need-nothing-i-seek-nothing-i-desire-nothing/) [Milarepa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milarepa/) > [When you are strong and healthy, You never think of sickness coming, But it descends with sudden force, Like a stroke of lightning. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milarepa/when-you-are-strong-and-healthy-you-never-think-of-sickness-coming/) [Milarepa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milarepa/) > [When you run after your thoughts, you are like a dog chasing a stick: every time a stick is thrown, you run after it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milarepa/when-you-run-after-your-thoughts-you-are-like-a-dog-chasing-a-stick/) [Milarepa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milarepa/) > [Know emptiness, Be compassionate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milarepa/know-emptiness-be-compassionate/) [Milarepa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milarepa/) > [You menace others with your deadly fangs. But in tormenting them, you are only tormenting yourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milarepa/you-menace-others-with-your-deadly-fangs-but-in-tormenting-them-you/) [Milarepa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milarepa/) [Explore all 36 Milarepa quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milarepa/) ## More Buddhist quotes > [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/) > [One of his students asked Buddha, "Are you the Messiah?" "No," answered Buddha. "Then are you a healer?" "No," Buddha replied. "Then are you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/one-of-his-students-asked-buddha-are-you-the-messiah-no-answered/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [For fear of causing terror to living beings, Mahamati, let the Bodhisattva who is disciplining himself to attain compassion, refrain from eating flesh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/for-fear-of-causing-terror-to-living-beings-mahamati-let-the/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Be lamps unto yourselves. Be refuges unto yourselves. Take yourself no external refuge. Hold fast to the truth as a lamp. Hold fast to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/be-lamps-unto-yourselves-be-refuges-unto-yourselves-take-yourself-no/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Humility simply means that you do a great job at everything and it isn't really a big deal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/humility-simply-means-that-you-do-a-great-job-at-everything-and-it/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Speak only the speech that neither torments self nor does harm to others. That speech is truly well spoken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/speak-only-the-speech-that-neither-torments-self-nor-does-harm-to/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [I don't look at anything. Every person whether he is Hindu, Muslim or Buddhist, he is my brother, my sister. I think we all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/i-don-t-look-at-anything-every-person-whether-he-is-hindu-muslim-or/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [My family is Jewish, Buddhist, Baptist and Catholic. I don't believe in man-made religions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whoopi-goldberg/my-family-is-jewish-buddhist-baptist-and-catholic-i-don-t-believe-in/) [Whoopi Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whoopi-goldberg/) > [I'm working at trying to be a Christian, and that's serious business. It's like trying to be a good Jew, a good Muslim, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-m-working-at-trying-to-be-a-christian-and-that-s-serious-business/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Buddhist words such as compassion and emptiness don't mean much until we start cultivating our innate ability simply to be there with pain with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/buddhist-words-such-as-compassion-and-emptiness-don-t-mean-much-until/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [“Even my Buddhist friends have been feeling despair and when they go bad, you know the end is nigh.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/even-my-buddhist-friends-have-been-feeling-despair-and-when-they-go/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [He who causes suffering shall suffer. There is no escape.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/he-who-causes-suffering-shall-suffer-there-is-no-escape/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [“When I think about what it would take to achieve freedom from all psychological stuff, the response that comes is this: life is about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-m-ingram/when-i-think-about-what-it-would-take-to-achieve-freedom-from-all/) [Daniel M. Ingram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-m-ingram/) > [If my happiness at this moment consists largely in reviewing happy memories and expectations, I am but dimly aware of this present. I shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/if-my-happiness-at-this-moment-consists-largely-in-reviewing-happy/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) > [The Buddha gave his first talks, and three or four ascetics became his first disciples. They recognized his enlightenment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-buddha-gave-his-first-talks-and-three-or-four-ascetics-became-his/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) [Browse all 1,479 Buddhist quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhist/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Strong and healthy, who thinks of sickness until it strikes like lightning? 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