Admonition Quote by Sheldon B. Kopp
“The Zen Master warns: 'If you meet the Buddha on the road, kill him!' This admonition points up that no meaning that comes from outside of ourselves is real. The Buddhahood of each of us has already been obtained. We need only recognize it. Philosophy, religion, patriotism, all are empty idols. The only meaning in our lives is what we each bring to them. Killing the Buddha on the road means destroying the hope that anything outside of ourselves can be out master. No one is any bigger than anyone else. There are no mothers or fathers for grown-ups, only sisters and brothers.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Zen of Self‑Reliance, 1995
True meaning arises internally; external doctrines are empty idols.
In simple terms: Find meaning within yourself.
Key Takeaway
Seek inner truth, reject external idols.
Themes
philosophy
spirituality
individualism
Mood
contemplative
challenging
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- personal growth
- spiritual practice
- critical thinking
Key Concepts
existentialism
Buddhism
iconoclasm
Questions to Reflect On
- What internal truth do you need?
- How do you balance inner and outer guidance?
A Different Perspective
External beliefs can still inspire positive change.
![“Reprehension is a kind of middle thing betwixt admonition and correction: it is sharpe admonition, but a milde correction. It is rather to be used because it may be a meanes to prevent strokes and blowes, especially in ingenuous and good natured children. [Blows are] the last remedy which a parent…” quote by William Gouge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/8b8/william-gouge-47709_admonition_reprehension-is-a-kind-of-middle-thing-b_174332.jpg)
