Attention Quote by Philip Kapleau
“For the ordinary man, whose mind is a checkerboard of criss-crossing reflections, opinions, and prejudices, bare attention is virtually impossible.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Three Pillars of Zen by Philip Kapleau, 1965
Ordinary minds are cluttered with thoughts, making sustained focus nearly impossible.
In simple terms: People’s minds are noisy, hard to focus.
Practice mindfulness to quiet mental chatter.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- meditation retreats
- therapy
- education
- personal development
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we train attention?
- What habits reduce mental clutter?
The quote assumes all minds are equally cluttered, ignoring training effects.