--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: How can an unsteady mind make itself…" description: "\"How can an unsteady mind make itself steady? Of course it cannot. It is the nature of the mind to roam about. All you can do is to shift the focus of c..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05c/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj-953_can-do_how-can-an-unsteady-mind-make-itself-ste_2132660.png" --- # How can an unsteady mind make itself steady? Of course it… ![“How can an unsteady mind make itself steady? Of course it cannot. It is the nature of the mind to roam about. All you can do is to shift the focus of consciousness beyond the mind.” quote by Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05c/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj-953_can-do_how-can-an-unsteady-mind-make-itself-ste_2132660.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05c/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj-953_can-do_how-can-an-unsteady-mind-make-itself-ste_2132660.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05c/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj-953_can-do_how-can-an-unsteady-mind-make-itself-ste_2132660.png) > “How can an unsteady mind make itself steady? Of course it cannot. It is the nature of the mind to roam about. All you can do is to shift the focus of consciousness beyond the mind.” [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The mind cannot steady itself; shift consciousness beyond it. **In simple terms:** Move focus beyond a restless mind. Key Takeaway Transcend mental chatter. Themes spirituality mindfulness self‑inquiry Mood contemplative serene Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - meditation practice - creative work - decision making Key Concepts non‑dual awareness inner peace Questions to Reflect On - How can you notice when mind wanders? - What practices help you shift focus? A Different Perspective Mind may resist change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Consciousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consciousness/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) ## Related quotes > [You want to know yourself. For this keep steadily in the focus of consciousness, the only clue you have: your certainty of being. 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This is because steadiness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/if-you-make-an-inner-intent-to-remain-steady-in-a-completely-unsteady/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“don't rely too much upon that unsteady flicker.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k/don-t-rely-too-much-upon-that-unsteady-flicker/) Jerome K > [“As much as a person is unsteady (restless), that much entanglements he shall create.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/as-much-as-a-person-is-unsteady-restless-that-much-entanglements-he/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“The world is changing from moment to moment. The Self is steady and that which is unsteady is to be Seen. That which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/the-world-is-changing-from-moment-to-moment-the-self-is-steady-and/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [Small jerks began to appear in my legs, my walk became unsteady precisely because I wanted it to be smooth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/knut-hamsun/small-jerks-began-to-appear-in-my-legs-my-walk-became-unsteady/) [Knut Hamsun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/knut-hamsun/) > [That was the way love was, she guessed-it left you always unsteady on your feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-godbersen/that-was-the-way-love-was-she-guessed-it-left-you-always-unsteady-on/) [Anna Godbersen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-godbersen/) > [How often do I lull my seething blood to rest, for you have never seen anything so unsteady, so uncertain, as this heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/how-often-do-i-lull-my-seething-blood-to-rest-for-you-have-never-seen/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [“I am not a desperate, unsteady child who throws his trust around. I am not damaged.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-am-not-a-desperate-unsteady-child-who-throws-his-trust-around-i-am/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [Change is the only constant in this unsteady world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharmila-tagore/change-is-the-only-constant-in-this-unsteady-world/) [Sharmila Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharmila-tagore/) > [You have to take springtime on its own terms in the Ozarks: there is no other way. It can't be predicted. It is unsteady,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-hubbell/you-have-to-take-springtime-on-its-own-terms-in-the-ozarks-there-is/) [Sue Hubbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-hubbell/) > [The light of consciousness has no mind to change or alter anything. When you start to see the light that you really are, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adyashanti/the-light-of-consciousness-has-no-mind-to-change-or-alter-anything/) [Adyashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adyashanti/) > [Creativity comes from the spiritual realm, the collective consciousness. And the mind is in a different realm than the molecules of the brain. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-pert/creativity-comes-from-the-spiritual-realm-the-collective/) [Candace Pert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-pert/) ## More by Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj > [Forgetting your Self is the greatest injury; all the calamities flow from it. Take care of the most important, the lesser will take care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/forgetting-your-self-is-the-greatest-injury-all-the-calamities-flow/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [There is nothing to do, just be. Do nothing. Be. No climbing mountains and sitting in caves. I do not even say "be yourself"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/there-is-nothing-to-do-just-be-do-nothing-be-no-climbing-mountains/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [Let the dream unroll itself to its very end. You cannot help it. But you can look at the dream as a dream, refuse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/let-the-dream-unroll-itself-to-its-very-end-you-cannot-help-it-but/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [As long as the mind is there, your body and your world are there. Your world is mind-made, subjective, enclosed within the mind, fragmentary,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/as-long-as-the-mind-is-there-your-body-and-your-world-are-there-your/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [I ask you what is the taste of your mouth all you can do is to say: it is neither sweet nor bitter, nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/i-ask-you-what-is-the-taste-of-your-mouth-all-you-can-do-is-to-say-it/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [It is your restlessness that causes chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/it-is-your-restlessness-that-causes-chaos/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [To go beyond the mind, you must be silent and quiet. Peace and silence, silence and peace - this is the way beyond. Stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/to-go-beyond-the-mind-you-must-be-silent-and-quiet-peace-and-silence/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [Absolute perfection is here and now, not in some future, near or far.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/absolute-perfection-is-here-and-now-not-in-some-future-near-or-far/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [Having never left the house you are looking for the way home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/having-never-left-the-house-you-are-looking-for-the-way-home/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [Once you understand that the false needs time and what needs time is false, you are nearer the Reality, which is timeless, ever in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/once-you-understand-that-the-false-needs-time-and-what-needs-time-is/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [The universe is but a partial manifestation of your limitless capacity to become.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/the-universe-is-but-a-partial-manifestation-of-your-limitless/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [In reality, time and space exist in you. You do not exist in them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/in-reality-time-and-space-exist-in-you-you-do-not-exist-in-them/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [Whatever happens, happens to you by you, through you; you are the creator, enjoyer and destroyer of all you perceive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/whatever-happens-happens-to-you-by-you-through-you-you-are-the/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [Life is love and love is life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/life-is-love-and-love-is-life/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [The real does not die, the unreal never lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/the-real-does-not-die-the-unreal-never-lived/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) [Explore all 321 Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) ## More Can do quotes > [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [The happy medium is television. And if you find a good suitor, you can do it for years. With movies, you roll the dice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-campbell/the-happy-medium-is-television-and-if-you-find-a-good-suitor-you-can/) [Bruce Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-campbell/) > [If I had a million dollars, I just wouldn't just completely set back. I'd have to get out there and show my face to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muddy-waters/if-i-had-a-million-dollars-i-just-wouldn-t-just-completely-set-back-i/) [Muddy Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muddy-waters/) > [Anybody can be Prince Charming one day a year, with the dinner and the flowers and all that. But you know what impresses me?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-howard/anybody-can-be-prince-charming-one-day-a-year-with-the-dinner-and-the/) [Ryan Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-howard/) > [And if the mind thinks with a believing attitude one can do amazing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/and-if-the-mind-thinks-with-a-believing-attitude-one-can-do-amazing/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [The amount of things you can do with a kettlebell is unsurpassed by any other training equipment - dumbbells, resistance machines, free weights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/the-amount-of-things-you-can-do-with-a-kettlebell-is-unsurpassed-by/) [Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/) > [It's nice when you've done enough movies that you can do your own anthology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/it-s-nice-when-you-ve-done-enough-movies-that-you-can-do-your-own/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [If people don't have their own vision, all they can do is 'sign-up' for someone else's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-senge/if-people-don-t-have-their-own-vision-all-they-can-do-is-sign-up-for/) [Peter Senge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-senge/) > [The one thing that flies in the face of all human history and experience, is that the government can do a superior job than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/the-one-thing-that-flies-in-the-face-of-all-human-history-and/) [James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/) > [...what I can do is offer myself, wholehearted and present, to walk with the people I love through the fear and the mess. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shauna-niequist/what-i-can-do-is-offer-myself-wholehearted-and-present-to-walk-with/) [Shauna Niequist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shauna-niequist/) > [Whether that's speaking up in your job or asking for a promotion or saying, 'I think I can do that.' Using your voice in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-shriver/whether-that-s-speaking-up-in-your-job-or-asking-for-a-promotion-or/) [Maria Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-shriver/) > [The average ordinary citizen can do a lot of different things when it comes to the climate crisis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/the-average-ordinary-citizen-can-do-a-lot-of-different-things-when-it/) [Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/) > [A professional is a man who can do his job when he doesn't feel like it. An amateur is a man who can't do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-agate/a-professional-is-a-man-who-can-do-his-job-when-he-doesn-t-feel-like/) [James Agate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-agate/) > [The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, as it pleases him, for he can do all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/the-lord-gives-and-the-lord-takes-away-as-it-pleases-him-for-he-can/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [I'm not an educated man. I only know what I'm told, and I'm not told that much; I have no frame of reference for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/i-m-not-an-educated-man-i-only-know-what-i-m-told-and-i-m-not-told/) [Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/) Browse all 5,673 Can do quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "How can an unsteady mind make itself steady? Of course it cannot. 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