Buddha Quote by Sylvia Boorstein
““The Buddha said that there are three times that a person should consider the consequences of any action: before, during, and after. “One should reflect thus,” he said. “‘Is what I am about to do . . .’ or ‘Is what I am currently doing . . .’ or ‘Is what I just did . . . for my own well-being and for the benefit of all others?””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Heart of Buddhist Meditation, 1995
The Buddha advises reflecting on actions before, during, and after to ensure they benefit oneself and others.
In simple terms: Think before, during, and after actions.
Key Takeaway
Integrate reflective pauses into decisions.
Themes
mindfulness
ethics
consequence
compassion
Mood
calm
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- daily choices
- career decisions
- interpersonal conflicts
- habit formation
Key Concepts
three‑fold reflection
intentionality
Questions to Reflect On
- How often do you pause to reflect?
- What barriers prevent you from reflecting?
A Different Perspective
Reflection can cause indecision.
![“... every single act we do has the potential of causing pain, and every single thing we do has consequences that echo way beyond what we can imagine. It doesn't mean we shouldn't act. It means we should act carefully. Everything matters [p. 41].” quote by Sylvia Boorstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/5ab/sylvia-boorstein-7241_causing-pain_every-single-act-we-do-has-the-potential_75621.jpg)
![“... freedom of choice is possible. Life is going to unfold however it does: pleasant or unpleasant, disappointing or thrilling, expected or unexpected, all of the above! What a relief it would be to know that whatever wave comes along, we can ride it out with grace [p. 35].” quote by Sylvia Boorstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/340/sylvia-boorstein-7241_choice_freedom-of-choice-is-possible-life-is-go_122468.jpg)
![“I love the phrase 'I am not afraid!' Maybe it's the best phrase we can say, other than 'I have everything I need.' Maybe they are the same. [p. 14]” quote by Sylvia Boorstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f28/sylvia-boorstein-7241_fear_i-love-the-phrase-i-am-not-afraid-maybe_356864.jpg)
![“... life is difficult and painful, just by its very nature, not because we're doing it wrong [pp. 17-18].” quote by Sylvia Boorstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c2a/sylvia-boorstein-7241_difficult_life-is-difficult-and-painful-just-by-it_369102.jpg)
