--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Enlightenment is the journey back from…" description: "\"Enlightenment is the journey back from the head to the heart.\" — Ravi Shankar" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/153/ravi-shankar-17238_buddhism_enlightenment-is-the-journey-back-from-t_2920005.jpg" --- # Enlightenment is the journey back from the head to the… ![“Enlightenment is the journey back from the head to the heart.” quote by Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/153/ravi-shankar-17238_buddhism_enlightenment-is-the-journey-back-from-t_2920005.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/153/ravi-shankar-17238_buddhism_enlightenment-is-the-journey-back-from-t_2920005.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/153/ravi-shankar-17238_buddhism_enlightenment-is-the-journey-back-from-t_2920005.jpg) > “Enlightenment is the journey back from the head to the heart.” [Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-shankar/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Enlightenment is described as moving from intellectual reasoning back to heartfelt intuition and feeling. **In simple terms:** Spiritual awakening shifts focus from mind to heart. Key Takeaway Listen to your heart for deeper insight. Themes spirituality self-discovery mind-body Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - meditation retreats - therapy sessions - creative work - conflict resolution Key Concepts intuition inner peace Questions to Reflect On - What does your heart tell you that your mind does not? - How can you integrate head and heart? A Different Perspective Intellectual analysis still has value; balance is needed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Buddhism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhism/) [Enlightenment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enlightenment/) [Enlightenment Journey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enlightenment-journey-876469/) [Head Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/head-heart/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Journey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journey/) [Journey Head](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journey-head-1353112/) ## Related quotes > [The longest journey you'll ever make is the journey from the head to the heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lissa-rankin/the-longest-journey-you-ll-ever-make-is-the-journey-from-the-head-to/) [Lissa Rankin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lissa-rankin/) > [Enlightenment is a journey. It is a journey that is made alone. It is a journey that is made with a teacher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/enlightenment-is-a-journey-it-is-a-journey-that-is-made-alone-it-is-a/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“The journey from the head to the hand is perilous and lined with bodies. It is the road on which nearly everyone who wants…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-patchett/the-journey-from-the-head-to-the-hand-is-perilous-and-lined-with/) [Ann Patchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-patchett/) > [“According to Zen Buddhists, all things have their existence in The Void. The Void is that which is no-thing, but contains all things within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-p-kauffman/according-to-zen-buddhists-all-things-have-their-existence-in-the/) [Joseph P. Kauffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-p-kauffman/) > [“Everything we perceive to be solid and static is made up of almost entirely empty space.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-p-kauffman/everything-we-perceive-to-be-solid-and-static-is-made-up-of-almost/) [Joseph P. Kauffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-p-kauffman/) > [Meditation is the quickest path to enlightenment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/meditation-is-the-quickest-path-to-enlightenment/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Unless you see your nature, all this talk about cause & effect is nonsense. Buddhas don't practice nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bodhidharma/unless-you-see-your-nature-all-this-talk-about-cause-effect-is/) [Bodhidharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bodhidharma/) > [Don't worry. 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It doesn't get any more Zen than that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaden-wilkes/that-s-all-there-is-enlightenment-on-the-end-of-a-cock-it-doesn-t-get/) [Jaden Wilkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaden-wilkes/) > [“The extraction of discrete parts of Chöd teachings from their broader philosophical contexts is symptomatic of how Chöd has been incorporated into and transmitted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-sorensen/the-extraction-of-discrete-parts-of-ch-d-teachings-from-their-broader/) [Michelle Sorensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-sorensen/) > [Nirvana is a word that means enlightenment, being beyond the illusion of birth and death, the illusion of pain, the illusion of love, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/nirvana-is-a-word-that-means-enlightenment-being-beyond-the-illusion/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Enlightenment is lightening up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-myers/enlightenment-is-lightening-up/) [Mike Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-myers/) ## More by Ravi Shankar > [What Sri Chinmoy does is God-given! He has a tremendous, a fantastic creative urge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-shankar/what-sri-chinmoy-does-is-god-given-he-has-a-tremendous-a-fantastic/) [Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-shankar/) > [In our culture we have such respect for musical instruments, they are like part of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-shankar/in-our-culture-we-have-such-respect-for-musical-instruments-they-are/) [Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-shankar/) > [One single raga can be performed for two hours, three hours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-shankar/one-single-raga-can-be-performed-for-two-hours-three-hours/) [Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-shankar/) > [I will keep playing as long as my body lets me, and as long as I'm wanted by my listeners. Because music is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-shankar/i-will-keep-playing-as-long-as-my-body-lets-me-and-as-long-as-i-m/) [Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-shankar/) > [There cannot possibly be a god in heaven watching all of this calmly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-shankar/there-cannot-possibly-be-a-god-in-heaven-watching-all-of-this-calmly/) [Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-shankar/) > [When people say that George Harrison made me famous, that is true in a way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-shankar/when-people-say-that-george-harrison-made-me-famous-that-is-true-in-a/) [Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-shankar/) > [I love the work of Matisse and Picasso, but I don't have enough millions to own one. 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When I perform…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-shankar/in-the-u-k-classical-music-is-composed-by-individuals-and-written/) [Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-shankar/) > [I appreciate very much Vilayat Khan, the sitar player, and Bismillah Khan, the shehnai player; and among the tabla players, of course, Alla Rakha,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-shankar/i-appreciate-very-much-vilayat-khan-the-sitar-player-and-bismillah/) [Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-shankar/) > [I have great difficulty sitting in the middle of the night and writing. Everything I do comes spontaneous. Sometimes it takes a long time;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-shankar/i-have-great-difficulty-sitting-in-the-middle-of-the-night-and/) [Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-shankar/) > [The music that I have learned and want to give is like worshipping God. It's absolutely like a prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-shankar/the-music-that-i-have-learned-and-want-to-give-is-like-worshipping/) [Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-shankar/) > [My secret ambition was always to provide music for animation films: something with an Indian theme, either a fairy tale or mythological tale or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-shankar/my-secret-ambition-was-always-to-provide-music-for-animation-films/) [Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-shankar/) > [I enjoy seeing other Indian musicians - old and young - coming to Europe and America and having some success. I'm happy to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-shankar/i-enjoy-seeing-other-indian-musicians-old-and-young-coming-to-europe/) [Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-shankar/) [Explore all 37 Ravi Shankar quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-shankar/) ## More Buddhism quotes > [There are places that are very draining. There are places where there is another dimensional crossover but to a dimension that is not powerful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/there-are-places-that-are-very-draining-there-are-places-where-there/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Enlightenment is lightening up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-myers/enlightenment-is-lightening-up/) [Mike Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-myers/) > [The very best players, when they are practicing, put everything they've got into it. But then they leave it for a while. And it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/the-very-best-players-when-they-are-practicing-put-everything-they-ve/) [Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/) > [Everyone will admire you when you do well. What a horrible thing to do to someone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/everyone-will-admire-you-when-you-do-well-what-a-horrible-thing-to-do/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Nirvana is a word that means enlightenment, being beyond the illusion of birth and death, the illusion of pain, the illusion of love, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/nirvana-is-a-word-that-means-enlightenment-being-beyond-the-illusion/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I think the most miraculous thing is learning. I get out of the way and let the students learn. Then you get to watch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/i-think-the-most-miraculous-thing-is-learning-i-get-out-of-the-way/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“Exactly. I think the original tantric Buddhists took notice of was some very wise old people who never studied in their youth, but took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-niemczura/exactly-i-think-the-original-tantric-buddhists-took-notice-of-was/) [Joe Niemczura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-niemczura/) > [A human being can only absorb a small amount of the mystical kundalini, you can be exposed again and again to it, but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/a-human-being-can-only-absorb-a-small-amount-of-the-mystical/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [One of the things I regret about not putting in that book or I think it's there but I didn't really elaborate on it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-warner/one-of-the-things-i-regret-about-not-putting-in-that-book-or-i-think/) [Brad Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-warner/) > [My mom and my aunties are really devout Christians. My mom married a Muslim when I was 12, so I got teachings from both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tech-n9ne/my-mom-and-my-aunties-are-really-devout-christians-my-mom-married-a/) [Tech N9ne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tech-n9ne/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“The extraction of discrete parts of Chöd teachings from their broader philosophical contexts is symptomatic of how Chöd has been incorporated into and transmitted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-sorensen/the-extraction-of-discrete-parts-of-ch-d-teachings-from-their-broader/) [Michelle Sorensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-sorensen/) > [Buddhism advises you not to implant feelings that you don’t really have or avoid feelings that you do have. If you are miserable you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/buddhism-advises-you-not-to-implant-feelings-that-you-don-t-really/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“That's all there is, enlightenment on the end of a cock. It doesn't get any more Zen than that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaden-wilkes/that-s-all-there-is-enlightenment-on-the-end-of-a-cock-it-doesn-t-get/) [Jaden Wilkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaden-wilkes/) > [Aging is like enlightenment at gunpoint. Before I had cancer, I lived my life for my art. After I had cancer, I lived my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-halprin/aging-is-like-enlightenment-at-gunpoint-before-i-had-cancer-i-lived/) [Anna Halprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-halprin/) [Browse all 6,100 Buddhism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Enlightenment is the journey back from the head to the heart.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ravi Shankar" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-shankar/enlightenment-is-the-journey-back-from-the-head-to-the-heart/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Buddhism" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-shankar/enlightenment-is-the-journey-back-from-the-head-to-the-heart/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/153/ravi-shankar-17238_buddhism_enlightenment-is-the-journey-back-from-t_2920005.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/153/ravi-shankar-17238_buddhism_enlightenment-is-the-journey-back-from-t_2920005.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/153/ravi-shankar-17238_buddhism_enlightenment-is-the-journey-back-from-t_2920005.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Enlightenment is the journey back from the head to the heart.” — Ravi Shankar", "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": "Ravi Shankar", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-shankar/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Enlightenment is the journey back from...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-shankar/enlightenment-is-the-journey-back-from-the-head-to-the-heart/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-shankar/enlightenment-is-the-journey-back-from-the-head-to-the-heart/#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 } } ] } ```