---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Buddha's teaching leads us to the…"
description: "\"The Buddha's teaching leads us to the realization that we must always strive to harm no sentient being, human or nonhuman, whether or not it is in our ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9b/norm-phelps-44318_being-human_the-buddha-s-teaching-leads-us-to-the-re_2189985.jpg"
---

#  The Buddha's teaching leads us to the realization that we…

![“The Buddha's teaching leads us to the realization that we must always strive to harm no sentient being, human or nonhuman, whether or not it is in our selfish interest to do so.” quote by Norm Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9b/norm-phelps-44318_being-human_the-buddha-s-teaching-leads-us-to-the-re_2189985.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9b/norm-phelps-44318_being-human_the-buddha-s-teaching-leads-us-to-the-re_2189985.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9b/norm-phelps-44318_being-human_the-buddha-s-teaching-leads-us-to-the-re_2189985.jpg)

> “The Buddha's teaching leads us to the realization that we must always strive to harm no sentient being, human or nonhuman, whether or not it is in our selfish interest to do so.”

[Norm Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-phelps/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

We should avoid harming any sentient being, regardless of personal gain.

**In simple terms:** Do no harm to any sentient life.

Key Takeaway

Practice compassion universally.

Themes

ethics compassion nonviolence

Mood

serene determined

Type

spiritual philosophical

When to use this quote

- dietary choices
- environmental activism
- animal welfare

Key Concepts

sentient rights moral philosophy

Questions to Reflect On

- How to balance self‑care with compassion?
- What limits exist for non‑harm?

A Different Perspective

Conflicts with self‑interest arise.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Being human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-human/) [Buddha Teaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddha-teaching-483963/) [Buddhist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhist/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Enlightenment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enlightenment/) [Harm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harm/) [Harm Sentient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harm-sentient-4563095/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Nonhuman Selfish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nonhuman-selfish-4766236/) [Realization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realization/) [Realization Strive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realization-strive-4766238/) [Selfish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfish/) [Selfish interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selfish-interest/) [Sentient beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sentient-beings/) [Strive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strive/) [Strive Harm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strive-harm-4766237/) [Teaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teaching/)

## Related quotes

> [Lack of understanding of the true nature of happiness, it seems to me, is the principal reason why people inflict sufferings on others. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/lack-of-understanding-of-the-true-nature-of-happiness-it-seems-to-me/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

> [“The goal of the Buddha’s teaching is Nibbāna (Sanskrit: Nirvāṇa). Literally translated, that means “not burning,” or in other words, the loss of all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayya-khema/the-goal-of-the-buddha-s-teaching-is-nibb-na-sanskrit-nirv-a/)

[Ayya Khema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayya-khema/)

> [We say that to 'give up all evil and to develop the good' is the heart of the Buddha's teaching. If we only make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajahn-chah/we-say-that-to-give-up-all-evil-and-to-develop-the-good-is-the-heart/)

[Ajahn Chah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajahn-chah/)

> [It is often said that the Buddha's teaching is only a raft to help you cross the river, a finger pointing to the moon.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/it-is-often-said-that-the-buddha-s-teaching-is-only-a-raft-to-help-2/)

[Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/)

> [“...“living in oneness with Buddha’s teaching, is a creative life in which everything becomes meaningful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gyomay-m-kubose/living-in-oneness-with-buddha-s-teaching-is-a-creative-life-in-which/)

[Gyomay M. Kubose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gyomay-m-kubose/)

> [Without ignoring the objective side of the truth, it has to be subjective as well, Buddha's whole teaching just for you, something you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/without-ignoring-the-objective-side-of-the-truth-it-has-to-be/)

[Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/)

> [Non-violence is the essence of the entire Buddha's teaching, and the practice of non-violence is the entire essence of the practice of Buddha dharma,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lobsang-tenzin/non-violence-is-the-essence-of-the-entire-buddha-s-teaching-and-the/)

[Lobsang Tenzin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lobsang-tenzin/)

> [“To help others is the way of Buddha and the teaching of Christianity - in this point the two religions are the same. What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shusaku-endo/to-help-others-is-the-way-of-buddha-and-the-teaching-of-christianity/)

[Shūsaku Endō](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shusaku-endo/)

> [“It is often said that the Buddha’s teaching is only a raft to help you cross the river, a finger pointing to the moon.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/it-is-often-said-that-the-buddha-s-teaching-is-only-a-raft-to-help/)

[Thich Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/)

> [Buddha's teaching are very simple, you don't have to break your head to understand the message. The part that I like the most from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-martin/buddha-s-teaching-are-very-simple-you-don-t-have-to-break-your-head/)

[Ricky Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-martin/)

> [Unless the people, through unified action, arise and take charge of their government, they will find that their government has taken charge of them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/unless-the-people-through-unified-action-arise-and-take-charge-of/)

[Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/)

> [The greatest productive force is human selfishness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/the-greatest-productive-force-is-human-selfishness/)

[Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/)

> [The marketplace obliges men, whether they will or not, in pursuing their own selfish interests, to connect the general good with their own individual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/the-marketplace-obliges-men-whether-they-will-or-not-in-pursuing/)

[Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/)

> [“As long as there is (worldly) selfish interest, there is no unity. Unity is attained with the ultimate intent of the Self \[the intent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/as-long-as-there-is-worldly-selfish-interest-there-is-no-unity-unity/)

[Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/)

> [If your actions are motivated by selfish interests rather than God, you are mortgaging tomorrow's joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-b-joshua/if-your-actions-are-motivated-by-selfish-interests-rather-than-god/)

[T. B. Joshua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-b-joshua/)

## More by Norm Phelps

> [Veganism is simply letting compassion guide our choice of food. As such, it is a basic Buddhist practice that ought to be expected of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-phelps/veganism-is-simply-letting-compassion-guide-our-choice-of-food-as/)

[Norm Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-phelps/)

> [When virtuous mental attitudes, like mindfulness, respect, and compassion, are invoked to justify nonvirtuous acts like hunting, fishing, and eating animal products, the mental…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-phelps/when-virtuous-mental-attitudes-like-mindfulness-respect-and/)

[Norm Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-phelps/)

> [It is a feeble compassion that pulls up short where self-interest begins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-phelps/it-is-a-feeble-compassion-that-pulls-up-short-where-self-interest/)

[Norm Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-phelps/)

> [ If we are not able to bring the churches, the synagogues, \[and\] the mosques around to the animal rights view, we will never make… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-phelps/if-we-are-not-able-to-bring-the-churches-the-synagogues-and-the/)

[Norm Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-phelps/)

> [Farmed animals are not future Buddhas donating their flesh out of compassion for those of us who have developed a craving for it. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-phelps/farmed-animals-are-not-future-buddhas-donating-their-flesh-out-of/)

[Norm Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-phelps/)

> [The beginning of mindful eating is the realization that eating meat is not about the meat-eater; it is about the animals who are tormented…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-phelps/the-beginning-of-mindful-eating-is-the-realization-that-eating-meat/)

[Norm Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-phelps/)

> [Buddhism cannot be true to itself until Buddhists resolve their ambivalence toward nonhuman animals and extend the full protection of their compassion to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-phelps/buddhism-cannot-be-true-to-itself-until-buddhists-resolve-their/)

[Norm Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-phelps/)

> [When we hunt or fish, we deliberately kill a defenseless being who wishes us no harm. This is a direct violation of the First…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-phelps/when-we-hunt-or-fish-we-deliberately-kill-a-defenseless-being-who/)

[Norm Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-phelps/)

[Explore all 9 Norm Phelps quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-phelps/)

## More Being human quotes

> [The concept of humanity is an especially useful ideological instrument of imperialist expansion, and in its ethical-humanitarian form it is a specific vehicle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-schmitt/the-concept-of-humanity-is-an-especially-useful-ideological/)

[Carl Schmitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-schmitt/)

> [We began as mineral. We emerged into plant life, and into the animal state, and then into being human, and always we have forgotten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/we-began-as-mineral-we-emerged-into-plant-life-and-into-the-animal/)

[Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/)

> [“There are no greater or truer lords, gods, fathers, sons or holy spirits, than the humans. Humans are the highest beings on earth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/there-are-no-greater-or-truer-lords-gods-fathers-sons-or-holy-spirits/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

> [Being human, we would expel from our lives physical pain and mental anguish and assure ourselves of continual ease and comfort, but if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/being-human-we-would-expel-from-our-lives-physical-pain-and-mental/)

[Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/)

> [We’re built to deal with death, disease, failure, struggle, heartbreak, problems. It’s what separates us from the animals and why we envy and love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-maron/we-re-built-to-deal-with-death-disease-failure-struggle-heartbreak/)

[Marc Maron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-maron/)

> [“There are countless reasons to be jealous. But that doesn’t mean you have to succumb to them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-revis/there-are-countless-reasons-to-be-jealous-but-that-doesn-t-mean-you/)

[Beth Revis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-revis/)

> [“I honour the clarity of the present moment, and the stillness at the centre of being (mine & others), even in the midst of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-woodman/i-honour-the-clarity-of-the-present-moment-and-the-stillness-at-the/)

[Jay Woodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-woodman/)

> [It's the strangest thing about being human: to know so much, to communicate so much, and yet always to fall so drastically short of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-messud/it-s-the-strangest-thing-about-being-human-to-know-so-much-to/)

[Claire Messud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-messud/)

> [Virtue is something you have to get good at, like playing the trombone or tolerating bores at parties. Being a virtuous human being takes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-eagleton/virtue-is-something-you-have-to-get-good-at-like-playing-the-trombone/)

[Terry Eagleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-eagleton/)

> [Heartbreak is our indication of sincerity: in a love relationship, in a work, in trying to learn a musical instrument, in the attempt to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-whyte/heartbreak-is-our-indication-of-sincerity-in-a-love-relationship-in-a/)

[David Whyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-whyte/)

> [The Gnostics believed that exile was the essential condition of man. Do you agree? I do. The artist and the addict both wrestle with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/the-gnostics-believed-that-exile-was-the-essential-condition-of-man/)

[Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/)

> [“Either way, you were connected. By your desires. By your defiance. By the simple, complicated fact of who you were.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/either-way-you-were-connected-by-your-desires-by-your-defiance-by-the/)

[David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/)

> [“...something can be a good thing and yet not a necessary thing. It is good for people to be expert at brain surgery. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-lee-austin/something-can-be-a-good-thing-and-yet-not-a-necessary-thing-it-is/)

[Victor Lee Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-lee-austin/)

> [I have no interest in problematizing things. So what I am writing to is that simple sense of being human in myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayad-akhtar/i-have-no-interest-in-problematizing-things-so-what-i-am-writing-to/)

[Ayad Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayad-akhtar/)

> [Those who have ever valued liberty for its own sake believed that to be free to choose, and not to be chosen for, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-berlin/those-who-have-ever-valued-liberty-for-its-own-sake-believed-that-to/)

[Isaiah Berlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaiah-berlin/)

[Browse all 502 Being human quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-human/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The Buddha's teaching leads us to the realization that we must always strive to harm no sentient being, human or nonhuman, whether or not it is in our selfish interest to do so.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Norm Phelps"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-phelps/the-buddha-s-teaching-leads-us-to-the-realization-that-we-must-always/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Being human"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-phelps/the-buddha-s-teaching-leads-us-to-the-realization-that-we-must-always/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9b/norm-phelps-44318_being-human_the-buddha-s-teaching-leads-us-to-the-re_2189985.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9b/norm-phelps-44318_being-human_the-buddha-s-teaching-leads-us-to-the-re_2189985.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9b/norm-phelps-44318_being-human_the-buddha-s-teaching-leads-us-to-the-re_2189985.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The Buddha's teaching leads us to the realization that we must always strive to harm no sentient being…” — Norm Phelps",
                "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": "Norm Phelps",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-phelps/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The Buddha's teaching leads us to...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-phelps/the-buddha-s-teaching-leads-us-to-the-realization-that-we-must-always/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-phelps/the-buddha-s-teaching-leads-us-to-the-realization-that-we-must-always/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```