--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Where we tended to be judgmental, we…" description: "\"Where we tended to be judgmental, we became more judgmental of ourselves in our spiritual practice.\" — Jack Kornfield" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/535/jack-kornfield-936_judgmental_where-we-tended-to-be-judgmental-we-beca_1864138.png" --- # Where we tended to be judgmental, we became more… ![“Where we tended to be judgmental, we became more judgmental of ourselves in our spiritual practice.” quote by Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/535/jack-kornfield-936_judgmental_where-we-tended-to-be-judgmental-we-beca_1864138.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/535/jack-kornfield-936_judgmental_where-we-tended-to-be-judgmental-we-beca_1864138.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/535/jack-kornfield-936_judgmental_where-we-tended-to-be-judgmental-we-beca_1864138.png) > “Where we tended to be judgmental, we became more judgmental of ourselves in our spiritual practice.” [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Judgment in spiritual practice often mirrors our tendency to judge ourselves, highlighting inner criticism. **In simple terms:** Spiritual judgment reflects self‑judgment. Key Takeaway Notice and soften self‑criticism. Themes spirituality self-awareness judgment Mood contemplative thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - meditation sessions - therapy - personal growth - daily reflection Key Concepts mindfulness psychology compassion Questions to Reflect On - In what ways do you judge yourself during practice? - How can compassion replace criticism? A Different Perspective Self‑judgment can impede spiritual progress if unchecked. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice/) [Praise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/praise/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual/) [Spiritual practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual-practice/) ## Related quotes > [All of spiritual practice is a matter of relationship: to ourselves, to others, to life's situations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/all-of-spiritual-practice-is-a-matter-of-relationship-to-ourselves-to/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [Spiritual practice should not be confused with grim duty. It is the laughter of the Dalai Lama and the wonder born with every child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/spiritual-practice-should-not-be-confused-with-grim-duty-it-is-the/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [“Genuine spiritual practice requires us to learn how to stop the war. This is a first step, but actually it must be practiced over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/genuine-spiritual-practice-requires-us-to-learn-how-to-stop-the-war/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [“Letting go is a central theme in spiritual practice, as we see the preciousness and brevity of life. When letting go is called for,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/letting-go-is-a-central-theme-in-spiritual-practice-as-we-see-the/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [Yet I knew that spiritual practice is impossible without great dedication, energy, and commitment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/yet-i-knew-that-spiritual-practice-is-impossible-without-great/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [“In this way, our life may appear as a series of mistakes. One could call them “problems” or “challenges,” but in some ways “mistakes”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/in-this-way-our-life-may-appear-as-a-series-of-mistakes-one-could/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [An honorable spiritual practice recognizes the losses we have suffered, tells our story, and sheds our tears to free us from the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/an-honorable-spiritual-practice-recognizes-the-losses-we-have/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [We can bring our spiritual practice into the streets, into our communities, when we see each realm as a temple, as a place to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/we-can-bring-our-spiritual-practice-into-the-streets-into-our/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [When we let go of our battles and open our hearts to things as they are, then we come to rest in the present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/when-we-let-go-of-our-battles-and-open-our-hearts-to-things-as-they/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [“The purpose of a spiritual discipline is to give us a way to stop the war, not by our force of will, but organically,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/the-purpose-of-a-spiritual-discipline-is-to-give-us-a-way-to-stop-the/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [“Spiritual practice is not a mindless repetition of ritual or prayer. It works through consciously realizing the law of cause and effect. Perhaps we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/spiritual-practice-is-not-a-mindless-repetition-of-ritual-or-prayer/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [“When we let go of our battles and open our heart to things as they are, then we come to rest in the present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/when-we-let-go-of-our-battles-and-open-our-heart-to-things-as-they/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [“Spirituality doesn’t look like sitting down and meditating. Spirituality looks like folding the towels in a sweet way and talking kindly to the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krista-tippett/spirituality-doesn-t-look-like-sitting-down-and-meditating/) [Krista Tippett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krista-tippett/) > [“A powerful spiritual practice is consciously to allow the diminishment of ego when it happens without attempting to restore it. I recommend that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/a-powerful-spiritual-practice-is-consciously-to-allow-the/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [The goal of spiritual practice is full recovery, and the only thing you need to recover from is a fractured sense of self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/the-goal-of-spiritual-practice-is-full-recovery-and-the-only-thing/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) ## More by Jack Kornfield > [“When we let go of our battles and open our heart to things as they are, then we come to rest in the present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/when-we-let-go-of-our-battles-and-open-our-heart-to-things-as-they/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [In opening we can see how many times we have mistaken small identities and fearful beliefs for our true nature and how limiting this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/in-opening-we-can-see-how-many-times-we-have-mistaken-small/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [Wherever you are is the perfect place to awaken. This moment is the exact place to practice compassion and loving awareness. You have all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/wherever-you-are-is-the-perfect-place-to-awaken-this-moment-is-the/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [Acceptance does not mean inaction. We may need to respond, strongly at times...From a peaceful center we can respond instead of react. Unconscious reactions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/acceptance-does-not-mean-inaction-we-may-need-to-respond-strongly-at/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [To live in this precious animal body on this earth is as great a part of spiritual life as anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/to-live-in-this-precious-animal-body-on-this-earth-is-as-great-a-part/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [We do not have to improve ourselves; we just have to let go of what blocks our heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/we-do-not-have-to-improve-ourselves-we-just-have-to-let-go-of-what/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [To open deeply, as genuine spiritual life requires, we need tremendous courage and strength, a kind of warrior spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/to-open-deeply-as-genuine-spiritual-life-requires-we-need-tremendous/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [As we step out of the way new things are born.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/as-we-step-out-of-the-way-new-things-are-born/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [For most of us, generosity is a quality that must be developed. We have to respect that it will grow gradually; otherwise our spirituality…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/for-most-of-us-generosity-is-a-quality-that-must-be-developed-we-have/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [What is truly a part of our spiritual path is that which brings us alive. If gardening brings us alive, that is part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/what-is-truly-a-part-of-our-spiritual-path-is-that-which-brings-us/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [“Working with these distractions, steadying the canoe, letting the waves pass by, and coming back again and again in a quiet and collected way,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/working-with-these-distractions-steadying-the-canoe-letting-the-waves/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [To understand ourselves and our life is the point of insight meditation: to understand and to be free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/to-understand-ourselves-and-our-life-is-the-point-of-insight/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [To let go in the deepest recesses of the heart, to release all struggle and wanting, leads us to that knowing which is timeless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/to-let-go-in-the-deepest-recesses-of-the-heart-to-release-all/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [Wisdom says we are nothing. Love says we are everything. Between these two our life flows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/wisdom-says-we-are-nothing-love-says-we-are-everything-between-these/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [Breathing meditation can quiet the mind, open the body, and develop a great power of concentration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/breathing-meditation-can-quiet-the-mind-open-the-body-and-develop-a/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) [Explore all 324 Jack Kornfield quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) ## More Judgmental quotes > [“You mean I'm not lazy? No bitch, I mean you intimidate guys with a look or a comment before they can even decide if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-cohn/you-mean-i-m-not-lazy-no-bitch-i-mean-you-intimidate-guys-with-a-look/) [Rachel Cohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-cohn/) > [Anyone who expects a person to change something as private and personal as who they hold in their arms at night needs to change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-sanchez/anyone-who-expects-a-person-to-change-something-as-private-and/) [Alex Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-sanchez/) > [“One of the hardest lessons I have to learn is how not to be judgmental about people who are judgmental. When I see how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/one-of-the-hardest-lessons-i-have-to-learn-is-how-not-to-be/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [No one has it all figured out, especially not the people who are acting like they do and judging you because of it. Pretending…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tucker-max/no-one-has-it-all-figured-out-especially-not-the-people-who-are/) [Tucker Max](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tucker-max/) > [The seed of your next artwork lies embedded in the imperfections of your current piece. Such imperfections are your guides - valuable, objective, non-judgmental…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bayles/the-seed-of-your-next-artwork-lies-embedded-in-the-imperfections-of-2/) [David Bayles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bayles/) > [Approval is a greater motivator than disapproval, but we have to disapprove on occasion when we correct. It’s necessary. I make corrections only after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/approval-is-a-greater-motivator-than-disapproval-but-we-have-to/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [“Some will accuse me of being judgmental. Thank you. And proud of it. You wreck a kid's life, I have no pity for you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/some-will-accuse-me-of-being-judgmental-thank-you-and-proud-of-it-you/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [This topic of judging others could actually be taught in a two-word sermon. When it comes to hating, gossiping, ignoring, ridiculing, holding grudges, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/this-topic-of-judging-others-could-actually-be-taught-in-a-two-word/) [Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/) > [I do what I believe the Lord did, and that is walk in love with all mankind, which I don't see a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tasha-smith/i-do-what-i-believe-the-lord-did-and-that-is-walk-in-love-with-all/) [Tasha Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tasha-smith/) > [Mindfulness means moment-to-moment, non-judgmental awareness. It is cultivated by refining our capacity to pay attention, intentionally, in the present moment, and then sustaining that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kabat-zinn/mindfulness-means-moment-to-moment-non-judgmental-awareness-it-is/) [Jon Kabat-Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kabat-zinn/) > [I've never understood people that sleep around. I think there's something very lacking in your life when you do, not to be judgmental.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gemma-arterton/i-ve-never-understood-people-that-sleep-around-i-think-there-s/) [Gemma Arterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gemma-arterton/) > [I mean everyone is going to have an opinion. But the fact is, is many people have been critical or judgmental, which is almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-white/i-mean-everyone-is-going-to-have-an-opinion-but-the-fact-is-is-many/) [Paula White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-white/) > [People that complain about judgment are some of the most judgmental people I know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-that-complain-about-judgment-are-some-of-the-most-judgmental/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I hate watching myself on film because I am so judgmental.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamsin-egerton/i-hate-watching-myself-on-film-because-i-am-so-judgmental/) [Tamsin Egerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamsin-egerton/) > [Being judgmental is the most Fucked up thing one can do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniyal-butt/being-judgmental-is-the-most-fucked-up-thing-one-can-do/) [Daniyal Butt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniyal-butt/) Browse all 368 Judgmental quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Where we tended to be judgmental, we became more judgmental of ourselves in our spiritual practice.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jack Kornfield" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/where-we-tended-to-be-judgmental-we-became-more-judgmental-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Judgmental" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/where-we-tended-to-be-judgmental-we-became-more-judgmental-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/535/jack-kornfield-936_judgmental_where-we-tended-to-be-judgmental-we-beca_1864138.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/535/jack-kornfield-936_judgmental_where-we-tended-to-be-judgmental-we-beca_1864138.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/535/jack-kornfield-936_judgmental_where-we-tended-to-be-judgmental-we-beca_1864138.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Where we tended to be judgmental, we became more judgmental of ourselves in our spiritual practice.” — Jack Kornfield", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Jack Kornfield", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Where we tended to be judgmental,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/where-we-tended-to-be-judgmental-we-became-more-judgmental-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/where-we-tended-to-be-judgmental-we-became-more-judgmental-of/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```