Quotes About Understanding

We often mistakenly assume that because someone has genuine understanding in one particular area, this mastery necessarily extends to all other areas of life. That may or may not be true.

The intent here is not to suppress whatever feelings we may have, but to communicate in a way that fosters connection rather than divisiveness.

Understanding "no-self" does not come from destroying something we call "self" or "ego." The great awakening or discovery of the Buddha revealed that there was no self, no permanent I, to begin with. So if there is nothing we have to get rid of, then understanding selflessness very simply comes from careful awareness of what actually is happening moment to moment.

An interviewer once asked Mother Teresa what she says to God when she prays. "I don't say anything," she replied. "I just listen." Then the interviewer asked her what God says to her. "He doesn't say anything," said Mother Teresa. "He just listens. And if you don't understand that, I can't explain it to you.

At first, as we undertake the cultivation of compassion, we may feel genuine empathy with others in pain or difficulty. This happens when we take the time to stop and feel what is really going on—even for just a few moments before rushing on with our lives.

Through mindful attention in the moment, we see the impermanent nature of phenomena and understand the happiness of nongrasping.

The fourth of his insights that allowed him to triumph in his situation was the understanding that hatred, anger, and ill will never cease if we react with the same kind of feelings.

In this very straightforward teaching, the Buddha helps us understand the practice of freedom with a mature and long-ranging vision. Freedom is not simply doing what we want when we want it. That is addiction. Freedom is the wisdom to choose wisely.

We are each going to die alone. It is necessary to come to terms with our basic aloneness, to become comfortable with it. The mind can become strong and peaceful in that understanding, making possible a beautiful communion with others. When we understand ourselves, then relationships become easy and meaningful

An interviewer once asked Mother Teresa what she says to God when she prays. "I don't say anything," she replied. "I just listen." Then the interviewer asked her what God says to her. "He doesn't say anything," said Mother Teresa. "He just listens. And if you don't understand that, I can't explain it to you."1

The Buddha's teaching is never about blind belief, but about the wisdom of our own inquiry.

Clevinger was one of those people with lots of intelligence and no brains, and everyone knew it except those who soon found it out

Know what I mean? You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours." Yossarian knew what he meant. "That's not what I meant," Doc Daneeka said as Yossarian began scratching his back.

Now, where were we? Read me back the last line." " 'Read me back the last line,' " read back the corporal who could take shorthand.

Mi problema con la soledad es que la compañía de otros nunca ha sido una cura para ella.

Nincs mód arra, hogy tényleg mindent tudjunk, ezt is tudta, sÅ't azt is, hogy még azt se tudhatjuk, valóban nincs-e mód arra, hogy tényleg mindent tudjunk.

He knew everything about literature except how to enjoy it. Yossarian

Stia totul despre literatura, in afara de modul in care se putea bucura de ea.

Yossarian's attitude towards his roommates turned merciful and protective at the mere recollection of Captain Black. It was not their fault that they were young and cheerful, he reminded himself as he carried the swinging beam of his flashlight back through the darkness. He wished that he could be young and cheerful, too. And it wasn't their fault that they were courageous, confident and carefree.

It doesn't matter whether they mean it or not. That's why they make little kids pledge allegiance even before they know what 'pledge' and 'allegiance' mean.

Why couldn't anybody understand that he was not really a freak but a normal, lonely adult trying to lead a normal, lonely adult life? If they pricked him, didn't he bleed? And if he was tickled, didn't he laugh? It

Yes, now I see. But I still don't think I understand.

He was genuinely sorry for Yossarian; when Yossarian realized that, he was genuinely sorry for Rogoff.

You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours." Yossarian knew what he meant. "That's not what I meant," Doc Daneeka said as Yossarian began scratching his back.