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Pema Chodron Quotes - Page 2

All Quotes Acceptance Acting Addiction Appreciation Attitude Awakening Awareness Belief Bravery Buddhism Certainty Challenges Change Character Children Choices Clarity Commitment Compassion Confusion Curiosity Desire Determination Disappointment Drama Earth Ego Empathy Energy Enlightenment Experience Fear Feelings Finding Yourself Freedom Giving Giving Up Grief Happiness Healing Heart Honesty Humanity Hurt Identity Ignorance Insecurity Inspirational Inspiring Journey Joy Justice Karma Kindness Learning Letting Go Life Loneliness Meditation Mindfulness Opportunity Pain Peace Peace Of Mind Perfection Perspective Pleasure Prejudice Quality Reality Resentment Revenge Running Sadness Sleep Sorrow Spirituality Struggle Suffering Teaching Train Training Understanding Waiting Warrior Water Wisdom

Feelings like disappointment, embarrassment, irritation, resentment, anger, jealousy, and fear, instead of being bad news, are actually very clear moments that teach us where it is that we’re holding back. They teach us

Feelings like disappointment, embarrassment, irritation, resentment, anger, jealousy, and fear, instead of being bad news, are actually very clear moments that teach us where it is that we’re holding back. They teach us to perk up and lean in when we feel we’d rather collapse and back away. They’re like messengers that show us, with terrifying clarity, exactly where we’re stuck. This very moment is the perfect teacher, and, lucky for us, it’s with us wherever we are.

Teacher, Disappointment, Irritation

"When Things Fall Apart". Book by Pema Chödrön, December 24, 1996.

All the wars, all the hatred, all the ignorance in the world come out of being so invested in our opinions.

War, Ignorance, Hatred

Pema Chodron (2012). “Living Beautifully: with Uncertainty and Change”, p.108, Shambhala Publications

Don’t worry about achieving. Don’t worry about perfection. Just be there each moment as best you can.

Worry, Perfection, Moments

Pema Chodron (2001). “Start Where You Are: A Guide to Compassionate Living”, p.18, Shambhala Publications

Deep down in the human spirit, there is a reservoir of courage. It is always available, always waiting to be discovered.

Waiting, Spirit, Humans

"Redefining Courage" by Barbara Bonner, www.huffingtonpost.com. October 17, 2017.

As each breath goes out, let it be the end of that moment and the birth of something new. . .

Birth, Moments, Something New

Pema Chodron (2001). “Start Where You Are: A Guide to Compassionate Living”, p.117, Shambhala Publications

All situations teach you, and often it's the tough ones that teach you best.

Tough, Teach, Situation

Pema Chodron (2001). “Start Where You Are: A Guide to Compassionate Living”, p.79, Shambhala Publications

Nothing ever goes away until it has taught us what we need to know. Even if we run a hundred miles an hour to the other side of the continent, we find the very same problem awaiting us when we arrive.

Running, Taught Us, Needs

Pema Chodron (2003). “Comfortable with Uncertainty: 108 Teachings on Cultivating Fearlessness and Compassion”, p.165, Shambhala Publications

Not causing harm requires staying awake. Part of being awake is slowing down enough to notice what we say and do. The more we witness our emotional chain reactions and understand how they work, the easier it is to refrain. It becomes a way of life to stay awake, slow down, and notice.

Emotional, Down And, Way

Pema Chodron (2000). “When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times”, p.48, Shambhala Publications

Usually we think that brave people have no fear. The truth is that they are intimate with fear.

Thinking, People, Brave

Pema Chodron (2000). “When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times”, p.6, Shambhala Publications

Appreciate everything, even the ordinary... Especially the ordinary.

Appreciate, Ordinary, Birth

Each time you stay present with fear and uncertainty, you're letting go of a habitual way of finding security and comfort.

Letting Go, Comfort, Way

This moving away from comfort and security, this stepping out into what is unknown, uncharted and shaky - that's called liberation.

Buddhist, Freedom, Moving

Pema Chodron (2001). “Start Where You Are: A Guide to Compassionate Living”, p.21, Shambhala Publications

It isn't the things that are happening to us that cause us to suffer, it's what we say to ourselves about the things that are happening. The truth you believe and cling to makes you unavailable to hear anything new.

Believe, Suffering, Causes

If someone comes along and shoots an arrow into your heart, it's fruitless to stand there and yell at the person. It would be much better to turn your attention to the fact that there's an arrow in your heart.

Buddhist, Heart, Arrows

Pema Chodron (2001). “Start Where You Are: A Guide to Compassionate Living”, p.42, Shambhala Publications

We have a choice. We can spend our whole life suffering because we can't relax with how things really are, or we can relax and embrace the open-endedness of the human situation, which is fresh, unfixated, unbiased.

Choices, Suffering, Relax

Pema Chodron (2012). “Living Beautifully: with Uncertainty and Change”, p.14, Shambhala Publications

When we cling to thoughts and memories, we are clinging to what cannot be grasped. When we touch these phantoms and let them go, we may discover a space, a break in the chatter, a glimpse of open sky. This is our birthright—the wisdom with which we were born, the vast unfolding display of primordial richness, primordial openness, primordial wisdom itself. When one thought has ended and another has not yet begun, we can rest in that space.

Memories, Sky, Space

The most difficult times for many of us are the ones we give ourselves.

Inspirational, Freedom, Giving

Pema Chodron (2000). “When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times”, p.33, Shambhala Publications

This genuine heart of sadness can teach us great compassion. It can humble us when we're arrogant and soften us when we are unkind.

Heart, Humble, Sadness

Pema Chodron (2002). “The Places That Scare You: A Guide to Fearlessness in Difficult Times”, p.5, Shambhala Publications

Openness doesn’t come from resisting our fears but rather from getting to know them well.

Openness, Wells, Knows

Instead of asking ourselves, 'How can I find security and happiness?' we could ask ourselves, 'Can I touch the center of my pain? Can I sit with suffering, both yours and mine, without trying to make it go away? Can I stay present to the ache of loss or disgrace-disapp ointment in all its many forms-and let it open me?' This is the trick.

Pain, Loss, Suffering

Pema Chodron (2008). “The Pocket Pema Chodron”, p.30, Shambhala Publications

When we resist change, it’s called suffering. But when we can completely let go and not struggle against it, when we can embrace the groundlessness of our situation and relax into it’s dynamic quality, that’s called enlightenment

Letting Go, Struggle, Suffering

Pema Chodron (2012). “Living Beautifully: with Uncertainty and Change”, p.6, Shambhala Publications

For one day, or for one day for a week, refrain from something you habitually do to run away, to escape. Pick something concrete, such as overeating or excessive sleeping or overworking or spending too much time texting or checking e-mails. Make a commitment to yourself to gently and compassionately work with refraining from this habit for this one day. Really commit to it. Do this with the intention that it will put you in touch with the underlying anxiety or uncertainty that you've been avoiding. Do it and see what you discover.

Running, Sleep, Commitment

Our true nature is like a precious jewel: although it may be temporarily buried in mud, it remains completely brilliant and unaffected. We simply have to uncover it.

Jewels, Mindfulness, May

Pema Chodron (2007). “No Time to Lose: A Timely Guide to the Way of the Bodhisattva”, p.248, Shambhala Publications

When we are willing to stay even a moment with uncomfortable energy, we gradually learn not to fear it.

Energy, Moments, Uncomfortable

Pema Chodron (2002). “The Places That Scare You: A Guide to Fearlessness in Difficult Times”, p.74, Shambhala Publications

Whatever happens in your life, joyful or painful, do not be swept away by reactivity. Be patient with yourself and don't lose your sense of perspective.

Perspective, Patient, Painful

Pema Chodron (2007). “Always Maintain a Joyful Mind: And Other Lojong Teachings on Awakening Compassion and Fearlessness”, p.85, Shambhala Publications

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