If you ask why we meditate, I would say it's so we can become more flexible and tolerant to the present moment. — Pema Chodron Copy Share Image
If you follow your heart, you're going to find that it is often extremely inconvenient. — Pema Chodron Copy Share Image
Without loving-kindness for ourselves, it is difficult, if not impossible, to genuinely feel it for others. — Pema Chodron Copy Share Image
If you work with your mind, instead of trying to change everything on the outside... that's how your temper will cool down. — Pema Chodron Copy Share Image
If it's painful, you become willing not just to endure it but also to let it awaken your heart and soften you.… — Pema Chodron Copy Share Image
Welcome the present moment as if you had invited it. Why? Because it is all we ever have. — Pema Chodron Copy Share Image
We can drop the fundamental hope that there is a better "me" who one day will emerge. We can't just jump over… — Pema Chodron Copy Share Image
If you work with your mind, that will alleviate all the suffering that seems to come from the outside. — Pema Chodron Copy Share Image
If seeing that other person's pain brings up your fear or anger or confusion (which often happens), just start doing tonglen for… — Pema Chodron Copy Share Image
It's important to remember, when we're out there aggressively working for reform, that, even if our particular issue doesn't get resolved, we… — Pema Chodron Copy Share Image
If we're willing to give up hope that insecurity and pain can be eliminated, then we can have the courage to relax… — Pema Chodron Copy Share Image
Nothing ever goes away until it has taught us what we need to know. Even if we run a hundred miles an… — Pema Chodron Copy Share Image
If we Pause and breathe in and out, then we can have the experience of timeless presence, of the inexpressible wisdom and… — Pema Chodron Copy Share Image
If your everyday practice is open to all your emotions, to all the people you meet, to all the situations you encounter,… — Pema Chodron Copy Share Image
If you have rage and righteously act it out and blame it all on others, it's really you who suffers. The other… — Pema Chodron Copy Share Image
Welcome the present moment as if you had invited it. It is all we ever have, so we night as well work… — Pema Chodron Copy Share Image
We can put our whole heart into whatever we do; but if we freeze our attitude into for or against, we're setting… — Pema Chodron Copy Share Image
If we begin to get in touch with whatever we feel with some kind of kindness, our protective shells will melt, and… — Pema Chodron Copy Share Image
You could begin to notice whenever you find yourself blaming others or justifying yourself. If you spent the rest of your life… — Pema Chodron Copy Share Image
We could learn to stop when the sun goes down and when the sun comes up. We could learn to listen to… — Pema Chodron Copy Share Image
That could be applied to whatever you feel. Maybe anger is your thing. You just go out of control and you see… — Pema Chodron Copy Share Image
Well, it starts with being willing to feel what we are going through. It starts with being willing to have a compassionate… — Pema Chodron Copy Share Image
When Things Fall Apart” and I quote “Life is a good teacher and a good friend. Things are always in transition, if… — Pema Chodron Copy Share Image
We think that by protecting ourselves from suffering, we are being kind to ourselves. The truth is we only become more fearful,… — Pema Chodron Copy Share Image
Our neurosis and our wisdom are made out of the same material. If you throw out your neurosis, you also throw out… — Pema Chodron Copy Share Image
When there's a disappointment, I don't know if it's the end of the story. It may just be the beginning of a… — Pema Chodron Copy Share Image
What if rather than being disheartened by the ambiguity, the uncertainty of life, we accepted it and relaxed into it? — Pema Chodron Copy Share Image
Even if you don't feel appreciation, just look. Feel what you feel; take an interest and be curious. — Pema Chodron Copy Share Image
If you aren't feeding the fire of anger or the fire of craving by talking to yourself, then the fire doesn't have… — Pema Chodron Copy Share Image
If there's any possibility for enlightenment, it's right now, not at some future time. Now is the time. — Pema Chodron Copy Share Image
If you're invested in security and certainty, you are on the wrong planet. — Pema Chodron Copy Share Image
We can stop thinking that good practice is when it’s smooth and calm, and bad practice is when it’s rough and dark.… — Pema Chodron Copy Share Image
If we knew that tonight we were going to go blind, we would take a long, last real look at every blade… — Pema Chodron Copy Share Image
Wholeheartedly do what it takes to awaken your clear-seeing intelligence, but one day at a time, one moment at a time. If… — Pema Chodron Copy Share Image
Every small problem most likely stems from the same root as large problems, and so there is no need to always go… — Pema Chodron Copy Share Image
Everything is material for the seed of happiness, if you look into it with inquisitiveness and curiosity. The future is completely open,… — Pema Chodron Copy Share Image
Now is the only time. How we relate to it creates the future. In other words, if we're going to be more… — Pema Chodron Copy Share Image
If we want there to be peace in the world, we have to be brave enough to soften what is rigid in… — Pema Chodron Copy Share Image
Fear is a natural reaction of moving closer to the truth. If we commit ourselves to staying right where we are, then… — Pema Chodron Copy Share Image
If you see a homeless person on the street, and they need food, housing, medical attention - if you can give that,… — Pema Chodron Copy Share Image
“LIFE’S work is to wake up, to let the things that enter into your life wake you up rather than put you to sleep.… — Pema Chödrön Copy Share
Since death is certain and the time of death is uncertain, what is the most important thing? — Pema Chodron Copy Share
Buddhist words such as compassion and emptiness don't mean much until we start cultivating our innate ability simply to be there with pain with… — Pema Chodron Copy Share
The essence of generosity is letting go. Pain is always a sign that we are holding on to something - usually ourselves. — Pema Chodron Copy Share
“If the object of meditation were something concrete, something solid and graspable - an image or a statue or a dot on the floor… — Pema Chödrön Copy Share
It's a transformative experience to simply pause instead of immediately fill up the space. By waiting, we begin to connect with fundamental restlessness as… — Pema Chodron Copy Share
“The essence of life is that it’s challenging. Sometimes it is sweet, and sometimes it is bitter. Sometimes your body tenses, and sometimes it… — Pema Chödrön Copy Share
If we run a hundred miles an hour to the other end of the continent in order to get away from the obstacle, we… — Pema Chodron Copy Share
“But in this meditation technique, we are with the out-breath; there's no particular instruction about what to do until the next out-breath.” — Pema Chödrön Copy Share
“Nothing ever goes away until it has taught us what we need to know. Nothing ever really attacks us except our own confusion. Perhaps… — Pema Chödrön Copy Share
So even if the hot loneliness is there, and for 1.6 seconds we sit with that restlessness when yesterday we couldn't sit for even… — Pema Chodron Copy Share
If you have rage and righteously act it out and blame it all on others, it's really you who suffers. The other people and… — Pema Chodron Copy Share
“When we realize that the path is the goal, there’s a sense of workability. Trungpa Rinpoche said, “Whatever occurs in the confused mind is… — Pema Chödrön Copy Share
Every day is a new opportunity to work with what you have inside toward enlightenment. — Pema Chodron Copy Share
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… — Pema Chodron Copy Share