--- 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: every time a stick is thrown, you run after it. Instead, be like a lion who, rath..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/935/milarepa-17664_chasing_when-you-run-after-your-thoughts-you-are_1122784.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: every time a stick is thrown, you run after it. Instead, be like a lion who, rather than chasing after the stick, turns to face the thrower. One only throws a stick at a lion once.” quote by Milarepa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/935/milarepa-17664_chasing_when-you-run-after-your-thoughts-you-are_1122784.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/935/milarepa-17664_chasing_when-you-run-after-your-thoughts-you-are_1122784.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/935/milarepa-17664_chasing_when-you-run-after-your-thoughts-you-are_1122784.png) > “When you run after your thoughts, you are like a dog chasing a stick: every time a stick is thrown, you run after it. Instead, be like a lion who, rather than chasing after the stick, turns to face the thrower. One only throws a stick at a lion once.” [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. Instead of chasing fleeting thoughts, confront the source directly, like a lion facing the thrower rather than the stick. **In simple terms:** Stop chasing thoughts; face their origin. Key Takeaway Confront the cause, not the symptom. Themes mindfulness focus strength detachment Mood calm determined Type spiritual practical When to use this quote - meditation - stress management - decision making - conflict resolution Key Concepts Buddhist practice psychology metaphor Questions to Reflect On - What is the source of your restless thoughts? - How can you become the lion in daily life? A Different Perspective Focusing on thoughts can still leave underlying patterns unchecked. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dog/) [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Lions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lions/) [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/) [Throwers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/throwers/) ## Related quotes > [When you run after your thoughts, you are like a dog chasing a stick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milarepa/when-you-run-after-your-thoughts-you-are-like-a-dog-chasing-a-stick-2/) [Milarepa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milarepa/) > [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/) > [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/) > [I'm like a lion - I roar. If someone betrays me, I won't be a victim. I don't sulk, I get angry. I go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-marie-presley/i-m-like-a-lion-i-roar-if-someone-betrays-me-i-won-t-be-a-victim-i/) [Lisa Marie Presley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-marie-presley/) > [“A rug feels like a lion, but that doesn't mean you can ride it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lemony-snicket/a-rug-feels-like-a-lion-but-that-doesn-t-mean-you-can-ride-it/) [Lemony Snicket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lemony-snicket/) > [I'm like the LION, i'm not the GAZELLE](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-thomas/i-m-like-the-lion-i-m-not-the-gazelle/) [Eric Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-thomas/) > [But suppose your dæmon settles in a shape you don't like? Well, then, you're discontented, en't you? There's plenty of folk as'd like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-pullman/but-suppose-your-d-mon-settles-in-a-shape-you-don-t-like-well-then/) [Philip Pullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-pullman/) > [March isn't the only thing that's in like a lion and out like a lamb.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/march-isn-t-the-only-thing-that-s-in-like-a-lion-and-out-like-a-lamb/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [It is far better to live like a lion for a day then to live like a jackal for hundred years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tipu-sultan/it-is-far-better-to-live-like-a-lion-for-a-day-then-to-live-like-a/) Tipu Sultan > [I'm a frightened little cat that learned to act like a lion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eyedea/i-m-a-frightened-little-cat-that-learned-to-act-like-a-lion/) [Eyedea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eyedea/) > [You have to be like a lion and a fox. The fox is smart enough to recognize traps, and the lion is strong enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlo-gambino/you-have-to-be-like-a-lion-and-a-fox-the-fox-is-smart-enough-to/) Carlo Gambino > [Id like to be a lion... they are very family-oriented. Unfortunately. too many wild animals are afraid at what man can do to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/connie-stevens/id-like-to-be-a-lion-they-are-very-family-oriented-unfortunately-too/) [Connie Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/connie-stevens/) > [I would love to go into an animal's dream - like a lion's or a cat's. I'm sure that's pretty awesome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-cotillard/i-would-love-to-go-into-an-animal-s-dream-like-a-lion-s-or-a-cat-s-i/) [Marion Cotillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-cotillard/) > [Scripture is like a lion. Who ever heard of defending a lion? Just turn it loose; it will defend itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scripture-is-like-a-lion-who-ever-heard-of-defending-a-lion-just-turn/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Always enter like a kitten and leave like a lion. But NEVER enter like a lion and leave like a kitten. Always be humble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlson-gracie/always-enter-like-a-kitten-and-leave-like-a-lion-but-never-enter-like/) [Carlson Gracie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlson-gracie/) ## 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/) > [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 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: every time a stick is thrown, you run after it. 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