You know, the untrained mind is like turbulent water… it’s a concept that really hits home once you start practicing meditation yourself. That initial chaos slowly gives way to a clarity you can actually feel in your daily life.
Share Image Quote:Table of Contents
Meaning
At its core, this quote means that our default mental state is chaotic, but through the practice of meditation, we can cultivate profound calm and clarity.
Explanation
Okay, so let’s break this down. I’ve seen this play out so many times, both in my own practice and with people I’ve coached. The “untrained mind” – that’s our baseline. It’s that constant inner chatter, the jumping from one thought to another, the emotional reactivity. It’s murky. You can’t see the bottom. It’s reactive.
But meditation… it’s not about stopping thoughts. That’s a common misconception. It’s about training your attention. It’s the process of letting the sediment settle. And when that happens, the water becomes clear. You can see what’s actually in there. You gain insight. You respond instead of react. The stillness isn’t a void; it’s a powerful, poised awareness.
Quote Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Original Language | English (3668) |
| Category | Personal Development (697) |
| Topics | clarity (95), mind (39), stillness (7) |
| Literary Style | metaphoric (105) |
| Emotion / Mood | inspiring (392), peaceful (147) |
| Overall Quote Score | 86 (262) |
Origin & Factcheck
This is correctly attributed to Daniel Goleman, and it comes from his 1988 book, The Meditative Mind: The Varieties of Meditative Experience. People often misattribute deep meditation quotes to ancient Eastern philosophers, which is understandable, but this one is a modern, scientific take from an American psychologist and science journalist.
Attribution Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Author | Daniel Goleman (125) |
| Source Type | Book (4032) |
| Source/Book Name | The Meditative Mind: The Varieties of Meditative Experience (60) |
| Origin Timeperiod | Modern (530) |
| Original Language | English (3668) |
| Authenticity | Verified (4032) |
Author Bio
Daniel Goleman is a psychologist and bestselling author whose journalism at The New York Times brought brain and behavior science to a wide audience. He earned a BA from Amherst and a PhD in psychology from Harvard, and studied in India on a Harvard fellowship. Goleman’s research and writing helped mainstream emotional intelligence, leadership competencies, attention, and contemplative science. He co-founded CASEL and a leading research consortium on EI at work. The Daniel Goleman book list includes Emotional Intelligence, Working with Emotional Intelligence, Primal Leadership, Social Intelligence, Focus, and Altered Traits.
| Official Website
Where is this quotation located?
| Quotation | The untrained mind is like turbulent water; meditation allows it to become clear and still |
| Book Details | Publication Year/Date: 1977 (originally as The Varieties of Meditative Experience, revised 1988 as The Meditative Mind); ISBN: 9780874778335; Last Edition: Tarcher/Putnam 1988; Number of pages: 320. |
| Where is it? | Approximate page from 1988 edition, Chapter 3: Concentrative Meditation |