--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you run after your thoughts, you are…" description: "\"When you run after your thoughts, you are like a dog chasing a stick\" — Milarepa" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/264/milarepa-17664_chasing_when-you-run-after-your-thoughts-you-are_2814120.png" --- # When you run after your thoughts, you are like a dog… ![“When you run after your thoughts, you are like a dog chasing a stick” quote by Milarepa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/264/milarepa-17664_chasing_when-you-run-after-your-thoughts-you-are_2814120.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/264/milarepa-17664_chasing_when-you-run-after-your-thoughts-you-are_2814120.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/264/milarepa-17664_chasing_when-you-run-after-your-thoughts-you-are_2814120.png) > “When you run after your thoughts, you are like a dog chasing a stick” [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 metaphor likens chasing thoughts to a dog chasing a stick, implying futile pursuit and the need to let go of mental clutter. **In simple terms:** Chasing thoughts is futile; release them. Key Takeaway Practice mindfulness to quiet the mind. Themes mindfulness thoughts attachment mental clutter spiritual practice Mood calm reflective Type spiritual practical When to use this quote - stress management - creative brainstorming - therapy - daily reflection Key Concepts Buddhist philosophy psychology meditation Questions to Reflect On - How do you notice mental chatter? - What techniques help release thoughts? A Different Perspective Letting go can be challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dog/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [When a dog is chasing after you, whistle for him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/when-a-dog-is-chasing-after-you-whistle-for-him/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“I’m like a dog chasing cars, I wouldn’t know what to do if I caught one, you know, I just do…things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-jocker/i-m-like-a-dog-chasing-cars-i-wouldn-t-know-what-to-do-if-i-caught/) The Jocker > [Retribution is a dog chasing its tail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/retribution-is-a-dog-chasing-its-tail/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [Make a decision that from now on, your thoughts do not run you, you run your thoughts. From now on, your mind is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-harv-eker/make-a-decision-that-from-now-on-your-thoughts-do-not-run-you-you-run/) [T. Harv Eker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-harv-eker/) > [The scary thing about having insomnia is not the hours lost for sleeping but the re-run of thoughts you've been trying to forget.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-scary-thing-about-having-insomnia-is-not-the-hours-lost-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Without a plan your kind of just like a dog chasing it's tail, your not getting anywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-dennis/without-a-plan-your-kind-of-just-like-a-dog-chasing-it-s-tail-your/) [Gabrielle Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-dennis/) > [Cops came around to my house today, told me that my dog was chasing someone on a bike, I told them to bugger off,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/cops-came-around-to-my-house-today-told-me-that-my-dog-was-chasing/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Retaliation is a dog chasing its tail”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/retaliation-is-a-dog-chasing-its-tail/) [Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/) > [There's something bizarrely funny about a guy who doesn't realise he's, in essence, a dog chasing his own tail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-anderson/there-s-something-bizarrely-funny-about-a-guy-who-doesn-t-realise-he/) [Brad Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-anderson/) > [It was so cold today that I saw a dog chasing a cat, and the dog was walking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-rivers/it-was-so-cold-today-that-i-saw-a-dog-chasing-a-cat-and-the-dog-was/) [Mickey Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-rivers/) > [Chipping and putting for par is like a dog chasing cars, he won't be doing it for very long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-trevino/chipping-and-putting-for-par-is-like-a-dog-chasing-cars-he-won-t-be/) [Lee Trevino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-trevino/) > [We've got all these people chasing something that they're never going to get, because it doesn't exist. Even if they did get it, they'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-pearson/we-ve-got-all-these-people-chasing-something-that-they-re-never-going/) [Adam Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-pearson/) > [“A not unblack dog was chasing a not unsmall rabbit across a not ungreen field.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/a-not-unblack-dog-was-chasing-a-not-unsmall-rabbit-across-a-not/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [I love what I think, and I'm never tempted to believe it. Thoughts are like the wind or the leaves on the trees or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/i-love-what-i-think-and-i-m-never-tempted-to-believe-it-thoughts-are/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) ## 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/) > [Strong and healthy, who thinks of sickness until it strikes like lightning? Preoccupied with the world, who thinks of death, until it arrives like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milarepa/strong-and-healthy-who-thinks-of-sickness-until-it-strikes-like/) [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/) [Explore all 36 Milarepa quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milarepa/) ## More Chasing quotes > [Don't go chasing love because it'd leave you heart-broken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-polydor/don-t-go-chasing-love-because-it-d-leave-you-heart-broken/) [Steve Polydor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-polydor/) > [Creativity is like chasing chickens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christoph-niemann/creativity-is-like-chasing-chickens/) Christoph Niemann > [Stop chasing the things you want and embrace all that you already have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/stop-chasing-the-things-you-want-and-embrace-all-that-you-already-have/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The people who put you down don't have to stop you from chasing your dreams. Stand up, and prove them wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selena-gomez/the-people-who-put-you-down-don-t-have-to-stop-you-from-chasing-your/) [Selena Gomez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selena-gomez/) > [I say I'm chasing dreams but you know I've been running away from, running away from you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-posner/i-say-i-m-chasing-dreams-but-you-know-i-ve-been-running-away-from/) [Mike Posner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-posner/) > [If its meant to be, it will be. End of story. Im not chasing you if you're chasing after someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-its-meant-to-be-it-will-be-end-of-story-im-not-chasing-you-if-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm chasing my goals, and I haven't been able to make things happen the way I want them to happen. It doesn't feel good,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junior-dos-santos/i-m-chasing-my-goals-and-i-haven-t-been-able-to-make-things-happen/) [Junior dos Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junior-dos-santos/) > [I was kind of like chasing my tail and trying to do the right thing, and was a little bit stupid. Or irresponsible, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr/i-was-kind-of-like-chasing-my-tail-and-trying-to-do-the-right-thing/) [Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/) > [Don't loose your respect chasing people who don't care about.!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caleb/don-t-loose-your-respect-chasing-people-who-don-t-care-about/) [Caleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caleb/) > [“Two things you will never have to chase: True friends & true love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-hale/two-things-you-will-never-have-to-chase-true-friends-true-love/) [Mandy Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-hale/) > [Instead of being with a person that sincerely cares and wants to be with us, we long for some one who is chasing after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/instead-of-being-with-a-person-that-sincerely-cares-and-wants-to-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You are always chasing yourself, if you have testing sessions you test it out then but it's also a thing of growing a team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guenther-steiner/you-are-always-chasing-yourself-if-you-have-testing-sessions-you-test/) [Guenther Steiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guenther-steiner/) > [ People say, "Look, your book \[Tales and Wisdom from Duck Dynasty's Favorite Uncle\] is about tall tales." And I said, "No, you don't understand,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/si-robertson/people-say-look-your-book-tales-and-wisdom-from-duck-dynasty-s/) [Si Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/si-robertson/) > [I'm not going to stress over you anymore. It really isn't worth it. I've tried to work everything out, but you've ignored it. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-not-going-to-stress-over-you-anymore-it-really-isn-t-worth-it-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The only bad dreams are those not worth chasing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-bad-dreams-are-those-not-worth-chasing/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) Browse all 1,181 Chasing quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When you run after your thoughts, you are like a dog chasing a stick", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Milarepa" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milarepa/when-you-run-after-your-thoughts-you-are-like-a-dog-chasing-a-stick-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Chasing" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milarepa/when-you-run-after-your-thoughts-you-are-like-a-dog-chasing-a-stick-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/264/milarepa-17664_chasing_when-you-run-after-your-thoughts-you-are_2814120.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/264/milarepa-17664_chasing_when-you-run-after-your-thoughts-you-are_2814120.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/264/milarepa-17664_chasing_when-you-run-after-your-thoughts-you-are_2814120.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When you run after your thoughts, you are like a dog chasing a stick” — Milarepa", "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": "Milarepa", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milarepa/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When you run after your thoughts,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milarepa/when-you-run-after-your-thoughts-you-are-like-a-dog-chasing-a-stick-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milarepa/when-you-run-after-your-thoughts-you-are-like-a-dog-chasing-a-stick-2/#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 } } ] } ```