Reasoning ceases, but knowledge remains.

Excerpt

Buddha replied: "Our thinking is gone, but our thoughts continue. Reasoning ceases, but knowledge remains." Said Kūtadanta: "How is that? Is not reasoning and knowledge the same?" The Blessed One explained the distinction by an illustration: "It is as when a man wants, during the night, to send a letter, and, after having his clerk called, has a lamp lit, and gets the letter written. Then, when that has been done, he extinguishes the lamp. But though the writing has been finished and the light has been put out the letter is still there. Thus does reasoning cease and knowledge remain; and in the same way mental activity ceases, but experience, wisdom, and all the fruits of our acts endure."

Source The Gospel of Buddha, LIII, §4 · 📖 Read the full passage

✨ To meditate on today

According to The Gospel of Buddha, the Buddha explains to the Brahman Kūtadanta that our thoughts pass like a lamp that is put out, but what they have written remains: wisdom, experience and the fruits of our acts. This evening, look back over your day and ask yourself what “letter” it has written, what good will remain of your words and gestures, and choose one to renew tomorrow.

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