Home / Quotes / Quote by Stanislaw Lem

Quote by Stanislaw Lem

“Is a mountain only a huge stone? Is a planet an enormous mountain?”

Author

Stanislaw Lem was a Polish science fiction novelist, writer, and philosopher. His works are renowned for their profound philosophical insights and unique literary style, profoundly influencing science fiction literature. Lem's many novels, including 'Solaris', 'Soylent Green', and 'Fahrenheit 451', have won widespread readership and numerous literary awards, and have inspired many writers to come. more

“Are the great spiritual teachings really advocating that we fight evil because we are on the side of light, the side of peace? Are they telling us to fight against that other 'undesirable' side, the bad and the black. That is a big question. If there is wisdom in the sacred teachings, there should not be any war. As long as a person is involved with warfare, trying to defend or attack, then his action is not sacred; it is mundane, dualistic, a battlefield situation.”

Source: The Collected Works of Chogyam Trungpa: Volume Three: Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism; The Myth of Freedom; The Heart of the Bud dha; Selected Writings

“As long as a person is involved with warfare, trying to defend or attack, then his action is not sacred; it is mundane, dualistic, a battlefield situation.”

Trying Persons Long Action Situation Involved Sacred Warfare Mundane Duality Battlefields

Book:The Collected Works of Chogyam Trungpa: Volume Three: Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism; The Myth of Freedom; The Heart of the Bud dha; Selected Writings

Source: The Collected Works of Chogyam Trungpa: Volume Three: Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism; The Myth of Freedom; The Heart of the Bud dha; Selected Writings

“As in music, when we hear the crescendo building, suddenly if the music stops, we begin to hear the silence as part of the music.”

Ifs Silence Building Crescendo

Book:The Collected Works of Chogyam Trungpa: Volume Three: Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism; The Myth of Freedom; The Heart of the Bud dha; Selected Writings

Source: The Collected Works of Chogyam Trungpa: Volume Three: Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism; The Myth of Freedom; The Heart of the Bud dha; Selected Writings

“We do not have to be ashamed of what we are. As sentient beings we have wonderful backgrounds. These backgrounds may not be particularly enlightened or peaceful or intelligent. Nevertheless, we have soil good enough to cultivate; we can plant anything in it.”

May Enough Wonderful Pride Intelligent Plant Backgrounds Peaceful Soil Ashamed Enlightened Good Enough Nevertheless Sentient Beings

Book:The Sanity We Are Born With: A Buddhist Approach to Psychology

Source: The Sanity We Are Born With: A Buddhist Approach to Psychology

“If you are involved with the intensity of crescendo situations, with the intensity of tragedy, you might begin to see the humor of these situations as well. As in music, when we hear the crescendo building, suddenly if the music stops, we begin to hear the silence as part of the music.”

Ifs Wells Might Silence Situation Building Involved Tragedy Intensity Crescendo

Book:The Collected Works of Chogyam Trungpa: Volume Three: Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism; The Myth of Freedom; The Heart of the Bud dha; Selected Writings

Source: The Collected Works of Chogyam Trungpa: Volume Three: Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism; The Myth of Freedom; The Heart of the Bud dha; Selected Writings

“Wow.A sylph.I think that's the first confirmed contact ever!" I raised my hand. "Umm,hello? Girl who was kidnapped by said sylph? Anyone want to fill me in on what it is and why it decided to give me an aerial tour of our fine state?”