--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you think you are enlightened; go home…" description: "\"If you think you are enlightened; go home for Thanksgiving.\" — Ram Dass" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/369/ram-dass-784_enlightened_if-you-think-you-are-enlightened-go-home_2905372.png" --- # If you think you are enlightened; go home for Thanksgiving. ![“If you think you are enlightened; go home for Thanksgiving.” quote by Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/369/ram-dass-784_enlightened_if-you-think-you-are-enlightened-go-home_2905372.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/369/ram-dass-784_enlightened_if-you-think-you-are-enlightened-go-home_2905372.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/369/ram-dass-784_enlightened_if-you-think-you-are-enlightened-go-home_2905372.png) > “If you think you are enlightened; go home for Thanksgiving.” [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True enlightenment is demonstrated through humility and gratitude, especially during family gatherings. **In simple terms:** Enlightenment shows in simple, honest actions. Key Takeaway Practice humility daily. Themes spirituality humility gratitude Mood gentle reflective Type spiritual inspirational When to use this quote - family gatherings - daily rituals - personal practice Key Concepts Eastern philosophy mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - How can you express gratitude without ego? - In what ways does family shape your spiritual path? A Different Perspective Humility may be misunderstood as weakness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Enlightened](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enlightened/) [Enlightened Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enlightened-home-4154838/) [Enlightenment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enlightenment/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Home Thanksgiving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home-thanksgiving-1649395/) [Thanksgiving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thanksgiving/) [Think Enlightened](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-enlightened-1518100/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [People think that if you are enlightened you are not in touch with the pulse of the physical. Au contraire! The higher you go,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/people-think-that-if-you-are-enlightened-you-are-not-in-touch-with/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I say we all take the pledge and stay home. Thanksgiving is a day to give thanks for what you have, not to save…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/regina-brett/i-say-we-all-take-the-pledge-and-stay-home-thanksgiving-is-a-day-to/) [Regina Brett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/regina-brett/) > [I want to take you home for Thanksgiving to meet the people who made me turn out this way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-want-to-take-you-home-for-thanksgiving-to-meet-the-people-who-made/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I had a great teacher in India who said to me, 'If you think you're spiritual and evolved and enlightened, go home for Christmas.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/i-had-a-great-teacher-in-india-who-said-to-me-if-you-think-you-re/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [If you can't think of an enlightened person positively, don't think of them at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-can-t-think-of-an-enlightened-person-positively-don-t-think-of/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [If you think you’re enlightened go spend a week with your family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/if-you-think-you-re-enlightened-go-spend-a-week-with-your-family/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [You think you have a handle on God, the Universe, and the Great White Light until you go home for Thanksgiving. In an hour,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-maclaine/you-think-you-have-a-handle-on-god-the-universe-and-the-great-white/) [Shirley MacLaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-maclaine/) > [If no one shopped on Thanksgiving Day, the stores wouldn't open. End of story. I say we all take the pledge and stay home.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/regina-brett/if-no-one-shopped-on-thanksgiving-day-the-stores-wouldn-t-open-end-of/) [Regina Brett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/regina-brett/) > [The person who says, 'I'm enlightened' probably isn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/the-person-who-says-i-m-enlightened-probably-isn-t/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [“Do not think that enlightenment is going to make you special, it’s not. If you feel special in any way, then enlightenment has not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adyashanti/do-not-think-that-enlightenment-is-going-to-make-you-special-it-s-not/) [Adyashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adyashanti/) > [“You are entitled to your own opinion, but this is what I believe' (implying, 'And I don’t intend to change'). What could be fairer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elouise-bell/you-are-entitled-to-your-own-opinion-but-this-is-what-i-believe/) [Elouise Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elouise-bell/) > [People have this kind of concept that they can't change but I feel like change is possible. So who you choose to be is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-w-marsden/people-have-this-kind-of-concept-that-they-can-t-change-but-i-feel/) [David W. Marsden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-w-marsden/) > [If you see the illusion you are enlightened, but if you think that you are enlightened you are in the illusion!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-l-poonja/if-you-see-the-illusion-you-are-enlightened-but-if-you-think-that-you/) [H. W. L. Poonja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-l-poonja/) > [I think you're all enlightened, until you open your mouths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/i-think-you-re-all-enlightened-until-you-open-your-mouths/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [People get very deep experiences and they think they're enlightened. That's not enlightenment, that's just some realization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/people-get-very-deep-experiences-and-they-think-they-re-enlightened/) [Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/) ## More by Ram Dass > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [This is the pathless path - returning to where you were initially before you got lost. The deepest truth in you is where the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/this-is-the-pathless-path-returning-to-where-you-were-initially/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [Souls love. That’s what souls do. Egos don’t, but souls do. Become a soul, look around, and you’ll be amazed-all the beings around you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/souls-love-that-s-what-souls-do-egos-don-t-but-souls-do-become-a-soul/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [I would like my life to be a statement of love and compassion--and where it isn't, that's where my work lies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/i-would-like-my-life-to-be-a-statement-of-love-and-compassion-and/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [The spiritual journey is individual, highly personal. It can't be organized or regulated. It isn't true that everyone should follow one path. Listen to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/the-spiritual-journey-is-individual-highly-personal-it-can-t-be/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [The person who says, 'I'm enlightened' probably isn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/the-person-who-says-i-m-enlightened-probably-isn-t/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [Accidents are just from where you're looking; to the ego, it looks like it's miracles and accidents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/accidents-are-just-from-where-you-re-looking-to-the-ego-it-looks-like/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [Fear of death only comes through the brittleness of the ego.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/fear-of-death-only-comes-through-the-brittleness-of-the-ego/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [Just because you are seeing divine light, experiencing waves of bliss, or conversing with Gods and Goddesses is no reason to not know your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/just-because-you-are-seeing-divine-light-experiencing-waves-of-bliss/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [Along with faith comes the requirement for dogged persistence. At first meditation may bring you mild highs or some relief from suffering. But there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/along-with-faith-comes-the-requirement-for-dogged-persistence-at/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [I help people as a way to work on myself, and I work on myself to help people ... to me, that's what the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/i-help-people-as-a-way-to-work-on-myself-and-i-work-on-myself-to-help/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [Old age spiritualizes people naturally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/old-age-spiritualizes-people-naturally/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [The ego is a tool. You don't separate it. It's a tool for the spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/the-ego-is-a-tool-you-don-t-separate-it-it-s-a-tool-for-the-spirit/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [It's very hard to grow, because it's difficult to let go of the models of ourselves in which we've invested so heavily.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/it-s-very-hard-to-grow-because-it-s-difficult-to-let-go-of-the-models/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [All that you seek is already within you. In Hinduism it is called the Atman, in Buddhism the pure Buddha-Mind. Christ said, 'the kingdom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/all-that-you-seek-is-already-within-you-in-hinduism-it-is-called-the/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) [Explore all 369 Ram Dass quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) ## More Enlightened 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/) > [Enlightened people live in very charged states of attention, with a tremendous power circuiting through them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/enlightened-people-live-in-very-charged-states-of-attention-with-a/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Now the stage today is to know that Self Realization gives you experiences and then your faith is established. Not blind but open enlightened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmala-srivastava/now-the-stage-today-is-to-know-that-self-realization-gives-you/) [Nirmala Srivastava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmala-srivastava/) > [ “Through the grace of a thief, one can become a thief and through the grace of a Gnani \[the enlightened one\], one can become… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/through-the-grace-of-a-thief-one-can-become-a-thief-and-through-the/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [Our attitude towards evil must be freed from hatred, and has itself need to be enlightened in character...Satan rejoices when he succeeds in inspiring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikolai-berdyaev/our-attitude-towards-evil-must-be-freed-from-hatred-and-has-itself/) [Nikolai Berdyaev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikolai-berdyaev/) > [I think enlightenment is something that you decide to do after you have met someone who is enlightened. Something touches your heart, your being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/i-think-enlightenment-is-something-that-you-decide-to-do-after-you/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“The more that the human mind is enlightened, the more desirous it becomes of farther acquisitions in knowledge. The”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-stewart/the-more-that-the-human-mind-is-enlightened-the-more-desirous-it/) [Alexander Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-stewart/) > [The enlightened attention rejects nothing nor welcomes anything-like a mirror it responds equally to all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/the-enlightened-attention-rejects-nothing-nor-welcomes-anything-like/) [Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/) > [So too, monks, I saw the ancient path, the ancient road traveled by the Perfectly Enlightened Ones of the past. And what is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/so-too-monks-i-saw-the-ancient-path-the-ancient-road-traveled-by-the/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [We do not have to be ashamed of what we are. As sentient beings we have wonderful backgrounds. These backgrounds may not be particularly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chogyam-trungpa/we-do-not-have-to-be-ashamed-of-what-we-are-as-sentient-beings-we/) [Chogyam Trungpa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chogyam-trungpa/) > [For I did not know that the soul needs to be enlightened by light from outside itself, so that it can participate in truth,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/for-i-did-not-know-that-the-soul-needs-to-be-enlightened-by-light/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [As a child there was no place for adventure or experimentation. I guess that kind of freedom started in high school with punk rock.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mcnairy/as-a-child-there-was-no-place-for-adventure-or-experimentation-i/) [Mark McNairy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mcnairy/) > [In dealing with those who share his bed, the enlightened ruler may enjoy their beauty but should not listen to their special pleas...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/han-fei/in-dealing-with-those-who-share-his-bed-the-enlightened-ruler-may/) [Han Fei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/han-fei/) > [“Even when you have been somewhat enlightened by what you have read, you are called upon to continue the serach for significance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-j-adler/even-when-you-have-been-somewhat-enlightened-by-what-you-have-read/) [Mortimer J. Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-j-adler/) > [I want to engage people in an honest, enlightened, and provocative conversation about the nature of erotic desire and the intricacies of intimacy and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-perel/i-want-to-engage-people-in-an-honest-enlightened-and-provocative/) [Esther Perel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-perel/) [Browse all 1,151 Enlightened quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enlightened/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you think you are enlightened; go home for Thanksgiving.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ram Dass" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/if-you-think-you-are-enlightened-go-home-for-thanksgiving/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Enlightened" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/if-you-think-you-are-enlightened-go-home-for-thanksgiving/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/369/ram-dass-784_enlightened_if-you-think-you-are-enlightened-go-home_2905372.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/369/ram-dass-784_enlightened_if-you-think-you-are-enlightened-go-home_2905372.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/369/ram-dass-784_enlightened_if-you-think-you-are-enlightened-go-home_2905372.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you think you are enlightened; go home for Thanksgiving.” — Ram Dass", "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": "Ram Dass", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If you think you are enlightened;...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/if-you-think-you-are-enlightened-go-home-for-thanksgiving/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/if-you-think-you-are-enlightened-go-home-for-thanksgiving/#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 } } ] } ```