“The mind is the ruler of the soul. It should remain unstirred by agitations of the flesh--gentle and violent ones alike. Not mingling with them, but fencing itself off and keeping those feelings in their place. When they make their way into our thoughts, through the sympathetic link between mind and body, don't try to resist the sensation. The sensation is natural. But don't let the mind start in with judgments, calling it 'good' or 'bad.”
Hays translation
V, 26
Meditations (c. 121–180 AD), Book V
Help us to complete the source, original and additional information
Marcus Aurelius400
Emperor of Ancient Rome 121–180Related quotes
Michael Moorcock book The Runestaff
Source: Book 2, Chapter 1 “Whispering in Secret Rooms” (pp. 428-429), The Runestaff (1969)
Fernando Pessoa book The Book of Disquiet
Ibid., p. 98
The Book of Disquiet
Original: Há sensações que são sonos, que ocupam como uma névoa toda a extensão do espírito, que não deixam pensar, que não deixam agir, que não deixam claramente ser.
Peter J. Carroll (1953) British occultist
Source: Liber Kaos (1992), p. 87
Context: The Conscious mind is a maelstrom of fleeting thoughts, images, sensations, feelings, conflicting desires, and doubts; barely able to confine its attention to a single clear objective for a microsecond before secondary thoughts begin to adulterate it and provoke yet further trains of mental discourse. If you do not believe this, then attempt to confine your conscious attention to the dot at the end of this sentence without involving yourself in any other form of thinking, including thinking about the dot.
Ajahn Lee (1907–1961)
Inner Strength (1956), as translated from the Thai by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu
“When in Love,
body, mind, heart and soul don't even exist.”
Rumi (1207–1273) Iranian poet
Hush Don't Say Anything to God (1999)
Barry Long (1926–2003) Australian spiritual teacher and writer
Love is not a feeling ~ The Article (1995)
Context: Love is not a feeling; it's a sensation. Drinking water when you're thirsty is a sensation, not a feeling. Being in nature or swimming in the sea is a sensation, not a feeling. Lying down when you're tired is sensational, not a feeling, although you may say it feels good. Feeling is an emotional interpretation of experience and these sensations don't need interpretation; they are just good or right. Making physical love rightly is a sensation, not a feeling. So is the love of God. The same goes for joy and beauty; both are sensational.
