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Spirituality means waking up. Most people, even though they don't know it, are asleep. They're born asleep, they live asleep, they marry in their sleep, they breed children in their sleep, they die in their sleep without ever waking up. They never understand the loveliness and the beauty of this thing that we call human existence. You know- all mystics- Catholic, Christian, non-Christian, no matter what their theology, no matter what their religion- are unanimous on one thing: that all is well, all is well. Though everything is a mess, all is well. Strange paradox, to be sure. But, tragically, most people never get to see that all is well because they are asleep. They are having a nightmare.

Anthony de Mello#21

SpiritualityPerceptionMindfulnessLifeAwareness

About this quote

What does it mean?
Most people live unconsciously without appreciating life, while mystics see the underlying goodness.
In plain terms
Many people sleep through life without waking up to see its beauty.
What can you take from it?
Wake up to the beauty of existence around you.

Where it applies

  • meditation
  • daily life
  • spiritual practice

Putting it to work

  • practice mindfulness
  • notice daily beauty

Questions to consider

  • When was the last time you truly woke up?
  • What beauty are you ignoring?

Another view

It assumes suffering is just a failure to wake up.

More from Anthony de Mello

  1. People who want a cure, provided they can have it without pain, are like those who favour progress, provided they can have it without change.

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  2. Suffering is a sign that you're out of touch with the truth. Suffering is given to you that you might open your eyes to the truth, that you might understand th…

    Permalink to quote #22
  3. Nobody can be said to have attained the pinnacle of Truth until a thousand sincere people have denounced him for blasphemy.

    Permalink to quote #19

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