Spiritual Quotes by Pema Chödrön

Nothing ever goes away until it has taught us what we need to know.

— Pema Chodron

We cannot be present and run our story-line at the same time.

— Pema Chodron

There's nothing more important on our spiritual path than developing gentleness to oneself.

— Pema Chodron

The most important aspect of being on a spiritual path may be to just keep moving.

— Pema Chodron

Simply be present with your own shifting energies and with the unpredictabilit y of life as it unfolds.

— Pema Chodron

We work on ourselves in order to help others, but also we help others in order to work on ourselves.

— Pema Chodron

It's also helpful to realize that this very body that we have, that's sitting right here right now... with its aches and…

— Pema Chodron

The best spiritual instruction is when you wake up in the morning and say, 'I wonder what's going to happen today.' And…

— Pema Chodron

It isn't the things that happen to us in our lives that cause us to suffer, it's how we relate to the…

— Pema Chodron

So many of us start along the spiritual path because we are suffering. But you must realize that for real healing to…

— Pema Chodron

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

There isn't anything except your own life that can be used as ground for your spiritual practice. Spiritual practice is your life,…

— Pema Chodron

Most spiritual experiences begin with suffering. They begin with groundlessness. They begin when the rug has been pulled out from under us.

— Pema Chodron

Constantly apply cheerfulness, if for no other reason than because you are on this spiritual path. Have a sense of gratitude to…

— Pema Chodron

Learning how to be kind to ourselves, learning how to respect ourselves, is important. The reason it's important is that, fundamentally, when…

— Pema Chodron

We can stop struggling with what occurs and see its true face without calling it the enemy. It helps to remember that…

— Pema Chodron

To stay with that shakiness-to stay with a broken heart, with a rumbling stomach, with the feeling of hopelessness and wanting to…

— Pema Chodron

My experience with forgiveness is that it sort of comes spontaneously at a certain point and to try to force it it's…

— Pema Chodron

Sticking with uncertainty is how we learn to relax in the midst of chaos, how we learn to be cool when the…

— Pema Chodron

Ego could be defined as whatever covers up basic goodness. From an experiential point of view, what is ego covering up? It's…

— Pema Chodron

Many people hope a spiritual practice will let them avoid what they are ashamed of. But when you hide something from yourself,…

— Pema Chodron

When we start out on a spiritual path we often have ideals we think we're supposed to live up to. We feel…

— Pema Chodron

As long as we're caught up in always looking for certainty and happiness, rather than honoring the taste and smell and quality…

— Pema Chodron

Sticking with that uncertainty, getting the knack of relaxing in the midst of chaos, learning not to panic-this is the spiritual path.

— Pema Chodron

The spiritual journey involves going beyond hope and fear, stepping into unknown territory, continually moving forward. The most important aspect of being…

— Pema Chodron

We are not human beings having a spiritual experience, we are spiritual beings having a human experience and Infinite love is the…

— Pema Chodron

Sometimes people's spiritual ideas become fixed and they use them against those who don't share their beliefs - in effect, becoming fundamentalist.…

— Pema Chodron

Anxiety, heartbreak, and tenderness mark the in-between state. It's the kind of place we usually want to avoid. The challenge is to…

— Pema Chodron

Meditation is not a matter of trying to achieve ecstasy, spiritual bliss, or tranquillity, nor is it attempting to become a better…

— Pema Chodron