--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is within your competence to think and…" description: "\"It is within your competence to think and thus to get bound or to cease thinking and thus be free.\" — Ramana Maharshi" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38e/ramana-maharshi-915_bounds_it-is-within-your-competence-to-think-an_2146419.jpg" --- # It is within your competence to think and thus to get… ![“It is within your competence to think and thus to get bound or to cease thinking and thus be free.” quote by Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38e/ramana-maharshi-915_bounds_it-is-within-your-competence-to-think-an_2146419.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38e/ramana-maharshi-915_bounds_it-is-within-your-competence-to-think-an_2146419.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38e/ramana-maharshi-915_bounds_it-is-within-your-competence-to-think-an_2146419.jpg) > “It is within your competence to think and thus to get bound or to cease thinking and thus be free.” [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Thinking binds you; freeing the mind releases you from constraints. **In simple terms:** Thinking traps you; freeing mind frees you. Key Takeaway Cultivate mental stillness. Themes spirituality freedom mindfulness Mood contemplative serene Type spiritual philosophical When to use this quote - meditation - creative work - decision making - stress relief Key Concepts non‑attachment consciousness Questions to Reflect On - When is thinking beneficial? - How can you tell when to stop thinking? A Different Perspective Over‑thinking can be productive. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bounds/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [It is within our competence to think and become bound, or to cease thinking and thus be free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/it-is-within-our-competence-to-think-and-become-bound-or-to-cease/) [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) > [We should cease thinking about men as the enemy of children and women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-decrow/we-should-cease-thinking-about-men-as-the-enemy-of-children-and-women/) [Karen DeCrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-decrow/) > [I think I was always bound to become two selves, if I wasn't already.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-gosling/i-think-i-was-always-bound-to-become-two-selves-if-i-wasn-t-already/) [Ryan Gosling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-gosling/) > [Stop holding on to what hurts you and give room for new things, new plans, new people and joy. 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If he is a stranger whom you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/the-master-is-within-meditation-is-meant-to-remove-the-ignorant-idea/) [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) ## More by Ramana Maharshi > [Then all this earth shines like one house.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/then-all-this-earth-shines-like-one-house/) [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) > [Silence is most powerful. Speech is always less powerful than silence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/silence-is-most-powerful-speech-is-always-less-powerful-than-silence/) [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) > [Meditation is sticking to one thought. 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One can but turn the mind inwards…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/god-illumines-the-mind-and-shines-within-it-one-cannot-know-god-by/) [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) > [We are so engrossed with the objects, or appearances revealed by the light, that we pay no attention to the light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramana-maharshi/we-are-so-engrossed-with-the-objects-or-appearances-revealed-by-the/) [Ramana Maharshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) [Explore all 329 Ramana Maharshi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramana-maharshi/) ## More Bounds quotes > [Man will not always stay on Earth; the pursuit of light and space will lead him to penetrate the bounds of the atmosphere, timidly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konstantin-tsiolkovsky/man-will-not-always-stay-on-earth-the-pursuit-of-light-and-space-will/) [Konstantin Tsiolkovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konstantin-tsiolkovsky/) > [Importunity is a condition of prayer. 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