Satish Kumar > Quotes

“We live under the power of Modern Consciousness, which means that we are obsessed with progress. Wherever you are is not good enough. We always want to achieve something, rather than experience something. The opposite of this is Spiritual Consciousness. By that I mean you find enchantment in every action you do, rather in just the results of your action. Spiritual Consciousness is not a particular religion but a way of being.”
― Satish Kumar

“We must realize that violence is not confined to physical violence. Fear is violence, caste discrimination is violence, exploitation of others, however subtle, is violence, segregation is violence, thinking ill of others and condemning others are violence. In order to reduce individual acts of physical violence, we must work to eliminate violence at all levels, mental, verbal, personal, and social, including violence to animals, plants, and all other forms of life.”
― Satish Kumar, The Buddha And the Terrorist

“Whatever lessens suffering in yourself and others, that is right. Whatever increases suffering, that is wrong. The answer is within you. When you are free of pride and prejudice, when you are calm and attentive, a light will shine within you. Through meditation and through being mindful you will find your own knowledge of rightness. You will be your own light.”
― Satish Kumar, The Buddha And the Terrorist

“Someone, somewhere, needs to take courage to break the cycle of violence. Forgiveness is superior to justice. Being kind and compassionate to those who are good to you is easy. True forgiveness and compassion come only when one is able to forgive even those who have committed barbaric acts. If Angulimala is capable of renouncing violence, then tell me, your Majesty: is your civilized society also capable of being truly civilized and renouncing violence?”
― Satish Kumar, The Buddha And the Terrorist

“So it is with the mind, Nandini. Allow it to be in balance. Avoid extremes: the middle way is better. Neither force the mind too hard into concentration nor let it wander aimlessly. Meditation is to pay attention, to be aware of your breathing, your posture, your feelings, your perceptions, your thoughts, and all that passes through your mind and the mind itself; whatever is going on within you and between you and the universe. Meditation is not just sitting for an hour here or an hour there; meditation is a way of life. It is practiced all the time. There is no separation between meditation and everyday living. When you have ceased to be bound by the past or by the future, when you are fully present in the here and now, then it is meditation.”
― Satish Kumar, The Buddha And the Terrorist

“William Morris championed the movement for Arts and Crafts. He believed that when we build a house with our hands, make furniture in our workshops, make pots and paintings in our studios, plant fruits and flowers in our gardens, we transform ourselves into alchemists, turning ordinary into extraordinary.”
― Satish Kumar, Soil Soul Society: A New Trinity For Our Time

“The power of love grows from inside, whereas the power of the sword is imposed from the outside. Like a tree grows from a seed, the power of love grows from the self; seek your power within and be your own light.”
― Satish Kumar, The Buddha and the Terrorist

“Now is the moment to live fully, and live in happiness. If there is no happiness today, how can you expect to be happy tomorrow?”
― Satish Kumar, The Buddha And the Terrorist

“It may seem paradoxical, but the gist of simplicity is the gist of abundance. When we know enough is enough, we have more than enough. Simplicity offers sufficiency over extravagance, comfort over convenience, contentment over cravings, and reconciliation over resentment.”
― Satish Kumar

“Take away your father and your mother, take away all the ancestral influences you have inherited, take away all the culture, language, and perceptions you have acquired: then what will be left of you? In this big picture, you carry within you the entire history of evolution as well as millions of years of the future to come, the entire network of relationships, the continuous dance of life; you are much much more than this small individual soul imprisoned in this flesh and blood personality. You are infinitely flowing energy, you are indivisible; and that is what makes you individual.”
― Satish Kumar, The Buddha and the Terrorist

“Whatever lessens suffering in yourself and others, that is right. Whatever increases suffering, that is wrong.”
― Satish Kumar, The Buddha And the Terrorist

“But I have come to realize that the true meaning of pilgrimage is to live free from any attachments, habits, prejudices. Free from physical and mental clutter. Making an outer journey is a reminder of an inner journey, and I discovered that I am always on a pilgrimage. Life is a journey. I want to travel through life as a pilgrim.”
― Satish Kumar, Elegant Simplicity: The Art of Living Well

“Fire cannot be put out with more fire.”
― Satish Kumar

“We are human beings first and last. Our religion is faith in Humanity - and there can be no religion greater than that.”
― Satish Kumar, No Destination: An Autobiography

“Within the moment of now, there is presence of ever there, As It is;, Invisible; Nothingness; of Still and silent awareness; in substratum; witnessing itself which U in real R...

It has nothing to do with Your mind, Your body appearance and Your world...

Wisdom is to let it recognize and and realize itself...

Often in Ignorance of IT, ignorant start believing "In the Moment", "As It Is" words, which point towards IT (awareness), ignorantly for the appearing body, appearing mind and appearing creation...

Be Happy and Keep Smiling...”
― Satish Kumar

“Remaining aware of awareness, witnessing it thru every experience within without one, is the way and the goal both...

Be Happy and keep smiling...”
― Satish Kumar

“Meistä on tullut ihmistekoja pikemmin kuin ihmisolentoja. Hidasta, niin pääset pitemmälle kuin voit kuvitellakkaan.”
― Satish Kumar, No Destination: An Autobiography

“You discover that it takes far more courage to transform the impulse toward justified violence into the embrace of a supposed adversary.”
― Satish Kumar, The Buddha and the Terrorist

“Ego means "I am this body mind"...
Clarity realise "I am That"
Whereas in real Just awareness is...

Be Happy and keep smiling...”
― Satish Kumar

“Under the title of sarvodaya, Mahatma Gandhi designed a system by which human beings would minimize their material needs and maximize their quality of life through spiritual, cultural, artistic and human values.”
― Satish Kumar, Soil Soul Society: A New Trinity For Our Time