If right now our emotional reaction to seeing a certain person or hearing certain news is to fly into a rage or to get despondent or something equally extreme, it's because we have been Pema Chodron More Quotes by Pema Chodron More Quotes From Pema Chodron That nothing is static or fixed, that all is fleeting and impermanent, is the first mark of existence. It is the ordinary state of affairs. Everything is in process. Everything - every tree, every blade of grass, all the animals, insects, human beings, buildings, the animate and the inanimate - is always changing, moment to moment. Pema Chodron ordinary tree animal Peace isn’t an experience free of challenges, free of rough and smooth, it’s an experience that’s expansive enough to include all that arises without feeling threatened. Pema Chodron challenges feelings peace Compassion for others begins with kindness to ourselves. Pema Chodron compassion self kindness We can put our whole heart into whatever we do; but if we freeze our attitude into for or against, we're setting ourselves up for stress. Instead, we could just go forward with curiosity, wondering where this experiment will lead. This kind of open-ended inquisitiveness captures the spirit of enthusiasm, or heroic perseverance. Pema Chodron perseverance stress attitude Impermanence is a principle of harmony. When we don't struggle against it, we are in harmony with reality. Pema Chodron buddhism struggle reality We can drop the fundamental hope that there is a better "me" who one day will emerge. We can't just jump over ourselves as if we were not there. Pema Chodron one-day hope fundamentals We insist on being Someone, with a capital S. We get security from defining ourselves as worthless or worthy, superior or inferior. We waste precious time exaggerating or romanticizing or belittling ourselves with a complacent surety that yes, that’s who we are. We mistake the openness of our being—the inherent wonder and surprise of each moment—for a solid, irrefutable self. Because of this misunderstanding, we suffer. Pema Chodron suffering self mistake A further sign of health is that we don't become undone by fear and trembling, but we take it as a message that it's time to stop struggling and look directly at what's threatening us. Pema Chodron threatening-us struggle fear Whatever you are doing, take the attitude of wanting it directly or indirectly to benefit others. Take the attitude of wanting it to increase your experience of kinship with your fellow beings. Pema Chodron increase benefits attitude Fear is a natural reaction to moving closer to the truth Pema Chodron wisdom wise fear One of the main discoveries of meditation is seeing how we continually run away from the present moment, how we avoid being here just as we are. That’s not considered to be a problem. The point is to see it. Pema Chodron meditation running discovery The first noble truth of the Buddha is that when we feel suffering, it doesn’t mean that something is wrong. What a relief. Pema Chodron relief suffering mean We think that the point is to pass the test or to overcome the problem, but the truth is that things don't really get solved. They come together and they fall apart. Pema Chodron together fall thinking As we practice, we begin to know the difference between our fantasy and reality. Pema Chodron differences practice reality It's also helpful to realize that this very body that we have, that's sitting right here right now... with its aches and it pleasures... is exactly what we need to be fully human, fully awake, fully alive. Pema Chodron get-well spiritual inspiring It's helpful to remind yourself that meditation is about opening and relaxing with whatever arises, without picking and choosing. Pema Chodron meditation-practice inspiration wisdom What's encouraging about meditation is that, even if we shut down, we can no longer shut down in ignorance. We see very clearly that we're closing off. That in itself begins to illuminate the darkness of ignorance. Pema Chodron meditation-practice buddhist ignorance We don't experience the world fully unless we are willing to give everything away. Pema Chodron willing giving world Compassionate action involves working with ourselves as much as working with others. Pema Chodron working-with-others compassion action When we protect ourselves so we won't feel pain, that protection becomes like armor, like armor that imprisons the softness of of the heart. Pema Chodron armor pain heart
