--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You are a Buddha, and so is everyone…" description: "\"You are a Buddha, and so is everyone else. I didn't make that up. It was the Buddha himself who said so. He said that all beings had the potential to b..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7b/nhat-hanh-515_awakened_you-are-a-buddha-and-so-is-everyone-else_314341.jpg" --- # You are a Buddha, and so is everyone else. I didn't make… ![“You are a Buddha, and so is everyone else. I didn't make that up. It was the Buddha himself who said so. He said that all beings had the potential to become awakened. To practice walking meditation is to practice living in mindfulness. Mindfulness and enlightenment are one. Enlightenment leads to…” quote by Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7b/nhat-hanh-515_awakened_you-are-a-buddha-and-so-is-everyone-else_314341.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7b/nhat-hanh-515_awakened_you-are-a-buddha-and-so-is-everyone-else_314341.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7b/nhat-hanh-515_awakened_you-are-a-buddha-and-so-is-everyone-else_314341.jpg) > “You are a Buddha, and so is everyone else. I didn't make that up. It was the Buddha himself who said so. He said that all beings had the potential to become awakened. To practice walking meditation is to practice living in mindfulness. Mindfulness and enlightenment are one. Enlightenment leads to mindfulness and mindfulness leads to enlightenment.” [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. All beings possess the potential for awakening; mindfulness and enlightenment are mutually reinforcing practices. **In simple terms:** Everyone can awaken through mindfulness. Key Takeaway Cultivate mindfulness to awaken. Themes mindfulness enlightenment human potential spiritual practice self‑realization Mood calm inspired Type spiritual motivational When to use this quote - daily meditation - mindful walking - stress reduction - personal growth Key Concepts Buddhist philosophy consciousness inner development Questions to Reflect On - What daily practices deepen your mindfulness? - How does mindfulness transform ordinary experiences? A Different Perspective Mindfulness alone may not guarantee enlightenment without deeper insight. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Buddhism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhism/) [Enlightenment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enlightenment/) [Meditation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meditation/) [Meditation practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meditation-practice/) [Mental health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mental-health/) [Mindfulness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mindfulness/) [Practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice/) [Walking meditation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/walking-meditation/) ## Related quotes > [There are many ways to calm a negative energy without suppressing or fighting it. You recognize it, you smile to it, and you invite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/there-are-many-ways-to-calm-a-negative-energy-without-suppressing-or/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [Walk so that your footprints bear only the marks of peaceful joy and complete freedom. To do this you have to learn to let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/walk-so-that-your-footprints-bear-only-the-marks-of-peaceful-joy-and/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [Every path, every street in the world is your walking meditation path.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/every-path-every-street-in-the-world-is-your-walking-meditation-path/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [I do many kinds of work, and if you forbid me from binding books, from gardening, from writing poetry, from practicing walking meditation, from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/i-do-many-kinds-of-work-and-if-you-forbid-me-from-binding-books-from/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [The Buddha said that if we know how to look deeply into our suffering and recognize what feeds it, we are already on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/the-buddha-said-that-if-we-know-how-to-look-deeply-into-our-suffering/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [As you expand your meditation practice, in concert with your faith, you will find that these divine moments come more often, until you are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-finley/as-you-expand-your-meditation-practice-in-concert-with-your-faith-you/) [James Finley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-finley/) > [Spiritual practice is not just sitting and meditation. Practice is looking, thinking, touching, drinking, eating and talking. Every act, every breath, and every step…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/spiritual-practice-is-not-just-sitting-and-meditation-practice-is/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [Meditation is not passive sitting in silence. It is sitting in awareness, free from distraction, and realizing the clear understanding that arises from concentration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/meditation-is-not-passive-sitting-in-silence-it-is-sitting-in/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [Contemplate to see that awakened people, while not being enslaved by the work of serving living beings, never abandon their work of serving living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/contemplate-to-see-that-awakened-people-while-not-being-enslaved-by/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [In Buddhism, there are three gems: Buddha, the awakened one; Dharma, the way of understanding and loving; and Sangha, the community that lives in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/in-buddhism-there-are-three-gems-buddha-the-awakened-one-dharma-the/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [The source of a true smile is an awakened mind. Smiling helps you approach the day with gentleness and understanding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/the-source-of-a-true-smile-is-an-awakened-mind-smiling-helps-you/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [“It’s like when you’re flying in an airplane. Whenever severe turbulence comes along, the seatbelt keeps you from getting thrown around the cabin. Mindful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/it-s-like-when-you-re-flying-in-an-airplane-whenever-severe/) [Thích Nhất Hạnh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/) > [“When sleepy, meditate with your eyes open wide. Stand in place for a few minutes or do walking meditation. If it’s really bad, walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/when-sleepy-meditate-with-your-eyes-open-wide-stand-in-place-for-a/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [Meditation means awareness. Whatsoever you do with awareness is meditation. Action is not the question, but the quality that you bring to your action.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/meditation-means-awareness-whatsoever-you-do-with-awareness-is/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [“If we practice walking meditation, we walk just for walking, not to arrive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/if-we-practice-walking-meditation-we-walk-just-for-walking-not-to/) [Thích Nhất Hạnh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/) ## 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. There are positive habit energies that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/our-joy-peace-and-happiness-depend-very-much-on-our-practice-of/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [I vow to live fully in each moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/i-vow-to-live-fully-in-each-moment/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [Silence is something that comes from your heart, not from outside. Silence doesn't mean not talking and not doing things; it means that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/silence-is-something-that-comes-from-your-heart-not-from-outside/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [Freedom is the real foundation of happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/freedom-is-the-real-foundation-of-happiness/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [Wisdom is a living stream, not an icon to be preserved in a museum. 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 Awakened quotes > [An enlightened awareness is within each one of us, right at this moment. This enlightened awareness is truly unborn and marvellously illuminating; and everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bankei-yotaku/an-enlightened-awareness-is-within-each-one-of-us-right-at-this/) [Bankei Yotaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bankei-yotaku/) > [If your heart isn't yet illumined Be awake always, be a seeker of the heart, Be at war continually with your carnal soul. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/if-your-heart-isn-t-yet-illumined-be-awake-always-be-a-seeker-of-the/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [There’s been a problem, a problem eating away at me from the inside out. I’ve become weak, I’ve shown human compassion, and it has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kane/there-s-been-a-problem-a-problem-eating-away-at-me-from-the-inside/) [Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kane/) > [Although all men are born free, slavery has been the general lot of the human race. Ignorant--they have been cheated; asleep--they have been surprised;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/although-all-men-are-born-free-slavery-has-been-the-general-lot-of/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION is a manual and a call to action for awakened patriots who are too intelligent to believe the leftist media lies and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-palin/righteous-indignation-is-a-manual-and-a-call-to-action-for-awakened/) [Sarah Palin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-palin/) > [Don Quixote followed nature, and being satisfied with his first sleep, did not solicit more. As for Sancho, he never wanted a second, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/don-quixote-followed-nature-and-being-satisfied-with-his-first-sleep/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) > [When I write about "realizations," I am describing a state in which a practitioner has wisdom of who she or he is, and has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-targ/when-i-write-about-realizations-i-am-describing-a-state-in-which-a/) Russell Targ > [To live a present and awakened life, simply be responsive to the moment. It is very simple. If you are hungry, eat. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-jacobson/to-live-a-present-and-awakened-life-simply-be-responsive-to-the/) [Leonard Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-jacobson/) > [I believe that it is truly important for everyone to confront in dialogue the historical reality of the Reformation, its consequences and the responses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-believe-that-it-is-truly-important-for-everyone-to-confront-in/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [“The truth is: while it may have been rough getting here, I’ve awakened to a dream. The most incredible man in the world came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dawn/the-truth-is-while-it-may-have-been-rough-getting-here-i-ve-awakened/) [Tessa Dawn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dawn/) > [In our true blissful essence of mind is known that everything is alright forever and forever and forever...listen to the silence inside the illusion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/in-our-true-blissful-essence-of-mind-is-known-that-everything-is/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [At certain times, a silent mind is very important, but 'silent' does not mean closed. The silent mind is an alert, awakened mind; a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thubten-yeshe/at-certain-times-a-silent-mind-is-very-important-but-silent-does-not/) [Thubten Yeshe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thubten-yeshe/) > [In Buddhism, there are three gems: Buddha, the awakened one; Dharma, the way of understanding and loving; and Sangha, the community that lives in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/in-buddhism-there-are-three-gems-buddha-the-awakened-one-dharma-the/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [What portion in the world can the artist have, Who has awakened from the common dream, But dissipation and despair?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/what-portion-in-the-world-can-the-artist-have-who-has-awakened-from/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) > [The living word awakened my soul, gave it light, hope, joy, set it free!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/the-living-word-awakened-my-soul-gave-it-light-hope-joy-set-it-free/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) Browse all 330 Awakened quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You are a Buddha, and so is everyone else. 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