--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I would not be happy if I could not…" description: "\"I would not be happy if I could not become a monk. They call it the beginner's mind - the deep intention, the deepest desire that a person may have. An..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/403/nhat-hanh-515_alive_i-would-not-be-happy-if-i-could-not-beco_210898.png" --- # I would not be happy if I could not become a monk. They… ![“I would not be happy if I could not become a monk. They call it the beginner's mind - the deep intention, the deepest desire that a person may have. And I can say that until this day, this beginner's mind is still alive in me.” quote by Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/403/nhat-hanh-515_alive_i-would-not-be-happy-if-i-could-not-beco_210898.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/403/nhat-hanh-515_alive_i-would-not-be-happy-if-i-could-not-beco_210898.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/403/nhat-hanh-515_alive_i-would-not-be-happy-if-i-could-not-beco_210898.png) > “I would not be happy if I could not become a monk. They call it the beginner's mind - the deep intention, the deepest desire that a person may have. And I can say that until this day, this beginner's mind is still alive in me.” [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Maintaining a beginner's mind keeps one open, curious, and aligned with deep purpose throughout life. **In simple terms:** A fresh, open mindset sustains purpose. Key Takeaway Cultivate curiosity and humility daily. Themes mindfulness spirituality growth purpose Mood calm hopeful Type spiritual philosophical When to use this quote - meditation practice - creative work - teaching - personal development Key Concepts beginner's mind intentional living inner peace Questions to Reflect On - How does a beginner's mind affect resilience? - What practices sustain it? A Different Perspective The concept may be romanticized in modern hustle. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) [Beginners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beginners/) [Deepest Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deepest-desire/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Enlightenment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enlightenment/) [Intention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intention/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Monk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monk/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) ## Related quotes > [I would not be happy if I had not become a monk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/i-would-not-be-happy-if-i-had-not-become-a-monk/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [I set myself challenges every time I work. Ideally, I approach everything as though it's the first time - with a beginner's mind and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-dafoe/i-set-myself-challenges-every-time-i-work-ideally-i-approach/) [Willem Dafoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willem-dafoe/) > [The goal of practice is always to keep our beginner's mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/the-goal-of-practice-is-always-to-keep-our-beginner-s-mind/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [There’s a phrase in Buddhism, ‘Beginner’s mind.’ It’s wonderful to have a beginner’s mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/there-s-a-phrase-in-buddhism-beginner-s-mind-it-s-wonderful-to-have-a/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [The practice of Zen mind is beginner's mind. The innocence of the first inquiry—what am I?—is needed throughout Zen practice. The mind of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/the-practice-of-zen-mind-is-beginner-s-mind-the-innocence-of-the/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [The beginner's mind is the mind of compassion. When our mind is compassionate, it is boundless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/the-beginner-s-mind-is-the-mind-of-compassion-when-our-mind-is/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [In the beginner's mind there is no thought, "I have attained something." All self-centered thoughts limit our vast mind. When we have no thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/in-the-beginner-s-mind-there-is-no-thought-i-have-attained-something/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [So the most difficult thing is always to keep your beginner's mind. There is no need to have a deep understanding of Zen. Even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/so-the-most-difficult-thing-is-always-to-keep-your-beginner-s-mind/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [You need to have a beginner's mind to create bold innovation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-benioff/you-need-to-have-a-beginner-s-mind-to-create-bold-innovation/) [Marc Benioff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-benioff/) > [In Buddhism, what is known as beginner's mind is a way to look at the world as if for the first time: with interest,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-cozolino/in-buddhism-what-is-known-as-beginner-s-mind-is-a-way-to-look-at-the/) [Louis Cozolino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-cozolino/) > [In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities; in the expert's mind there are few… In the beginner's mind there is no thought, 'I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/in-the-beginner-s-mind-there-are-many-possibilities-in-the-expert-s/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [I think a critical part of being successful in our industry is having a beginner's mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-benioff/i-think-a-critical-part-of-being-successful-in-our-industry-is-having/) [Marc Benioff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-benioff/) > [You wanna build your IQ higher in the next two years? Be uncomfortable. That means, learn something where you have a beginner's mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nolan-bushnell/you-wanna-build-your-iq-higher-in-the-next-two-years-be-uncomfortable/) [Nolan Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nolan-bushnell/) > [In Japan we have the phrase, "Shoshin," which means "beginner's mind." Our "original mind" includes everything within itself. It is always rich and sufficient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/in-japan-we-have-the-phrase-shoshin-which-means-beginner-s-mind-our/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [We strive always to have a beginner's mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-benioff/we-strive-always-to-have-a-beginner-s-mind/) [Marc Benioff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-benioff/) ## More by Nhat Hanh > [Happiness is the cessation of suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/happiness-is-the-cessation-of-suffering/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [We need enlightenment, not just individually but collectively, to save the planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/we-need-enlightenment-not-just-individually-but-collectively-to-save/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [If you really know how to live, what better way to start the day than with a smile?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/if-you-really-know-how-to-live-what-better-way-to-start-the-day-than/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [Contemplating the bowl, it is possible to see the interdependent elements which give rise to the bowl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/contemplating-the-bowl-it-is-possible-to-see-the-interdependent/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [Our joy, peace and happiness depend very much on our practice of recognizing and transforming habit energies. 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Only when a practitioner finds the spring of wisdom in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/wisdom-is-a-living-stream-not-an-icon-to-be-preserved-in-a-museum/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [We may think of peace as the absence of war, that if the great powers would reduce their weapons arsenals, we could have peace.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/we-may-think-of-peace-as-the-absence-of-war-that-if-the-great-powers/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [If you are capable of brushing your teeth in mindfulness, then you will be able to enjoy the time when you take a shower,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/if-you-are-capable-of-brushing-your-teeth-in-mindfulness-then-you/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [If I am incapable of washing dishes joyfully, if I want to finish them quickly so I can go and have dessert, I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/if-i-am-incapable-of-washing-dishes-joyfully-if-i-want-to-finish-them/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [When we have anger in us, we suffer. When we have discrimination in us, we suffer. When we have the complex of superiority, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/when-we-have-anger-in-us-we-suffer-when-we-have-discrimination-in-us/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [Every morning, when we wake up, we have twenty-four brand-new hours to live. What a precious gift! We have the capacity to live in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/every-morning-when-we-wake-up-we-have-twenty-four-brand-new-hours-to/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [It is best if we do not listen to or look at the person whom we consider to be the cause of our anger.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/it-is-best-if-we-do-not-listen-to-or-look-at-the-person-whom-we/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) [Explore all 507 Nhat Hanh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) ## More Alive quotes > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. 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Fasting requires that we rediscover all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/we-must-master-our-egoism-and-through-this-mastery-step-outside/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [I can't say that there are 'things' that make me come alive. There are thoughts that make me come alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-can-t-say-that-there-are-things-that-make-me-come-alive-there-are/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [We're like the wicked witch. We promise gingerbread, then eat the little brats alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/we-re-like-the-wicked-witch-we-promise-gingerbread-then-eat-the/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [If Jovan Belcher didn't possess a gun, he and Kasandra Perkins would both be alive today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-costas/if-jovan-belcher-didn-t-possess-a-gun-he-and-kasandra-perkins-would/) [Bob Costas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-costas/) > [Peace is an ongoing process. It begins with the first step and it does not end. We, all of us alive today, are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krieger/peace-is-an-ongoing-process-it-begins-with-the-first-step-and-it-does/) [David Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krieger/) > [I think adoption becomes complicated whenever the biological parents are alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haven/i-think-adoption-becomes-complicated-whenever-the-biological-parents/) [James Haven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haven/) > [The pain of love is the pain of being alive. It is a perpetual wound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/the-pain-of-love-is-the-pain-of-being-alive-it-is-a-perpetual-wound/) [Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [If Melanchthon were alive today, he might not weep because of controversies that surround the Lord's Supper, but he might well sorrow because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/if-melanchthon-were-alive-today-he-might-not-weep-because-of/) [Erwin W. 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