“There are two mistakes one can make along the road to truth… not going all the way, and not starting.”
Since I happen to be traveling through Asia, I thought it would be appropriate to bring up a quote from Buddha. While the quote makes reference to discovering the truth, I think that the same kind of mentality can apply to the quest for success and happiness as well.
Far too often, we find ourselves wishing for greater knowledge, greater happiness, and greater success. Unfortunately, wishing doesn’t really get you anywhere. You have to do something about it. Buddha reminds us that not starting means that you have zero opportunity to make it down that road to truth.
Similarly, even if we do manage to get started, it is very easy to lose our motivation and drive. We see this all the time with people who decide to start blogs, write a flurry of posts, and then leave the site stagnant for ages. People start exercise regimens with great fervor, only to abandon them a couple weeks later when they don’t realize any immediate results.
Perhaps it is the fear of failure that makes these kinds of endeavors so challenging, but “not going all the way” is a guaranteed way to fail. You have to try. You have to stick with it. You have to see it through and get past the rough spots.
The centuries-old wisdom of Buddha still applies today. Even if you’re not a Buddhist, there is definitely something to learn here.
I think this is where so many people get stuck in their lives and just settle for wishes instead of taking charge and taking action. Part of it too is they just don’t hold themselves accountable. There is a brand catch phrase that is so very Buddhist like. Nike – Just do it!
“A journey of 1000 steps begins with the first one,” or “Never Up, Never In,” or “Success doesn’t happen without trying.”
They all have the same meaning, if you don’t try you won’t succeed. Failure may not be an option as one saying goes, but it will happen, you just have learn from it.
Those quotes may have similar meaning but they cannot be more dissimilar from “There are two mistakes one can make along the road to truth… not going all the way, and not starting.”
As Michael had said, it was a quote from Buddha. This is The Buddha we are talking about! The Big guy, the Enlightened one!
I know who Buddha is. I train in the Asian Arts, and I study Buddhism. I will disagree with you on their meaning as they ALL mean the same thing in their own way.
I’m not an expert, but what Buddha wrote is not a one meaning fits all. It means what it wants to everyone differently. Buddha knew and Buddhism teaches that the writings are only a guide that we interpret as we see and understand the writings to mean.
So, to you it means one thing, to me it means a slightly different thing. The end is Enlightenment. The meaning is inside yourself, look in the mirror, there you will see Enlightenment.
In that article is says this that Buddhism “…was spread by wandering monks, one of whom was Bodhidharma, the priest credited with founding Shaolin kung fu at the Buddhist temple bearing the same name.”