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Pema Chodron Quotes about Letting Go

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

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

Pema Chodron
Letting Go, Comfort, Way

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

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

The happiness we seek cannot be found through grasping, trying to hold on to things. It cannot be found through getting serious and uptight about wanting things to go in the direction we think will bring happiness. We are always taking hold of the wrong end of the stick. The point is that the happiness we seek is already here and it will be found through relaxation and letting go rather than through struggle.

Pema Chodron
Happiness, Letting Go, Struggle
Pema Chodron (2001). “Start Where You Are: A Guide to Compassionate Living”, p.115, Shambhala Publications

Generosity is an activity that loosens us up. By offering whatever we can - a dollar, a flower, a word of encouragement - we are training in letting go.

Pema Chodron
Letting Go, Encouragement, Flower
Pema Chodron (2003). “Comfortable with Uncertainty: 108 Teachings on Cultivating Fearlessness and Compassion”, p.133, Shambhala Publications

The painful thing is that when we buy into disapproval, we are practicing disapproval. When we buy into harshness, we are practicing harshness. The more we do it, the stronger these qualities become. How sad it is that we become so expert at causing harm to ourselves and others. The trick then is to practice gentleness and letting go. We can learn to meet whatever arises with curiosity and not make it such a big deal.

Pema Chodron
Letting Go, Practice, Curiosity

The essence of generosity is letting go. Pain is always a sign that we are holding on to something - usually ourselves.

Pema Chodron
Letting Go, Pain, Essence
Pema Chodron (2003). “Comfortable with Uncertainty: 108 Teachings on Cultivating Fearlessness and Compassion”, p.133, Shambhala Publications

In meditation and in our daily lives there are three qualities that we can nurture, cultivate, and bring out. We already possess these, but they can be ripened: precision, gentleness, and the ability to let go.

Pema Chodron
Inspiring, Letting Go, Yoga
Pema Chodron (2001). “The Wisdom of No Escape: And the Path of Loving Kindness”, p.15, Shambhala Publications

The third noble truth says that the cessation of suffering is letting go of holding on to ourselves.

Pema Chodron
Letting Go, Suffering, Noble
Pema Chodron (2001). “The Wisdom of No Escape: And the Path of Loving Kindness”, p.53, Shambhala Publications

Surrendering, letting go of possessiveness, and complete nonattachment-all are synonyms for accumulating merit.

Pema Chodron
Letting Go, Merit, Possessiveness
Pema Chodron (2001). “Start Where You Are: A Guide to Compassionate Living”, p.99, Shambhala Publications

It is only when we begin to relax with ourselves that meditation becomes a transformative process. Only when we relate with ourselves without moralizing, without harshness, without deception, can we let go of harmful patterns. Without maitri (metta), renunciation of old habits becomes abusive. This is an important point.

Pema Chodron
Letting Go, Old Habits, Meditation

The Buddha’s principal message that day was that holding on to anything blocks wisdom. Any conclusion that we draw must be let go. The only way to fully understand the bodhichitta teachings, the only way to practice them fully, is to abide in the unconditional openness of the prajna, patiently cutting through all our tendencies to hang on.

Pema Chodron
Letting Go, Block, Teaching

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