--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Yet I knew that spiritual practice is…" description: "\"Yet I knew that spiritual practice is impossible without great dedication, energy, and commitment.\" — Jack Kornfield" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/742/jack-kornfield-936_commitment_yet-i-knew-that-spiritual-practice-is-im_2217896.png" --- # Yet I knew that spiritual practice is impossible without… ![“Yet I knew that spiritual practice is impossible without great dedication, energy, and commitment.” quote by Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/742/jack-kornfield-936_commitment_yet-i-knew-that-spiritual-practice-is-im_2217896.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/742/jack-kornfield-936_commitment_yet-i-knew-that-spiritual-practice-is-im_2217896.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/742/jack-kornfield-936_commitment_yet-i-knew-that-spiritual-practice-is-im_2217896.png) > “Yet I knew that spiritual practice is impossible without great dedication, energy, and commitment.” [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. Spiritual practice demands high levels of dedication, energy, and commitment. **In simple terms:** Spiritual work needs strong effort. Key Takeaway Commit fully to spiritual growth. Themes spirituality dedication energy Mood thoughtful motivational Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - meditation - daily rituals - long‑term practice Key Concepts Mindfulness discipline Questions to Reflect On - What motivates your spiritual dedication? - How can you sustain energy for practice? A Different Perspective Energy may wane, making consistency hard. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Commitment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commitment/) [Dedication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dedication/) [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Hard work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-work/) [Practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual/) [Spiritual practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual-practice/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) ## Related quotes > [However great your dedication, you never win anything on your own](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-nadal/however-great-your-dedication-you-never-win-anything-on-your-own/) [Rafael Nadal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-nadal/) > [Cristiano works hard. We have our battles, but I admire him. He is a guy with great dedication, and he's competitive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dani-alves/cristiano-works-hard-we-have-our-battles-but-i-admire-him-he-is-a-guy/) [Dani Alves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dani-alves/) > [“Practice even what seems impossible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/practice-even-what-seems-impossible/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [“Practice even what seems impossible. The left hand is useless at almost everything, for lack of practice. But it guides the reins better than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/practice-even-what-seems-impossible-the-left-hand-is-useless-at/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [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/) > [“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/) > [Where we tended to be judgmental, we became more judgmental of ourselves in our spiritual practice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/where-we-tended-to-be-judgmental-we-became-more-judgmental-of/) [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/) ## 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 Commitment quotes > [Deepen your existing spiritual commitment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-buettner/deepen-your-existing-spiritual-commitment/) [Dan Buettner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-buettner/) > [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [Certainly these are not easy times. But history does not contain very many easy times. Years from now, we will look back at this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-ingraham/certainly-these-are-not-easy-times-but-history-does-not-contain-very/) [Laura Ingraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-ingraham/) > [Trust is about keeping commitments, but in many instances, circumstances change and organizations therefore shed commitments, things such as retiree medical benefits, pension obligations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-pfeffer/trust-is-about-keeping-commitments-but-in-many-instances/) [Jeffrey Pfeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-pfeffer/) > [“You make me believe in happiness... if I had my way, if anything were up to me, I’d never be without you. You are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-kirchoff/you-make-me-believe-in-happiness-if-i-had-my-way-if-anything-were-up/) [Courtney Kirchoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-kirchoff/) > [Golf is such a big commitment, and so is acting. Sometimes you have to give up something to do something else, although, when I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-newton/golf-is-such-a-big-commitment-and-so-is-acting-sometimes-you-have-to/) [Kathryn Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-newton/) > [All of the barriers to innovation in the energy sector are arguments for a big commitment to public investment. Only the public sector can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nordhaus/all-of-the-barriers-to-innovation-in-the-energy-sector-are-arguments/) [Ted Nordhaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nordhaus/) > [When you make a commitment to a relationship, you invest your attention and energy in it more profoundly because you now experience ownership of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-de-angelis/when-you-make-a-commitment-to-a-relationship-you-invest-your/) [Barbara De Angelis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-de-angelis/) > [ “For \[erotically intelligent couples\], love is a vessel that contains both security and adventure, and commitment offers one of the great luxuries of life:… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-perel/for-erotically-intelligent-couples-love-is-a-vessel-that-contains/) [Esther Perel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-perel/) > [Having a point to start is important. You know that when you decide to write something it's like a commitment. It's like falling in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/having-a-point-to-start-is-important-you-know-that-when-you-decide-to/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) > [A commitment to lifelong learning is a natural expression of the practice of living consciously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/a-commitment-to-lifelong-learning-is-a-natural-expression-of-the/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [A lasting relationship consists of the 3 C's: Commitment. Communication. Compromise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/a-lasting-relationship-consists-of-the-3-c-s-commitment-communication/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [I've developed a huge regard for Toyota for its environmental awareness, for its immense commitment to research and development in this field, and for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-strong/i-ve-developed-a-huge-regard-for-toyota-for-its-environmental/) [Maurice Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-strong/) > [And the commitment that I've been giving to the Australian people is that there'll be no surprises and no excuses under a Coalition government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-abbott/and-the-commitment-that-i-ve-been-giving-to-the-australian-people-is/) [Tony Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-abbott/) > [As a result of reading science fiction when I was eight, I grew up with an interest in music, architecture, city planning, transportation, politics,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/as-a-result-of-reading-science-fiction-when-i-was-eight-i-grew-up/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) [Browse all 4,004 Commitment quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commitment/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Yet I knew that spiritual practice is impossible without great dedication, energy, and commitment.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jack Kornfield" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/yet-i-knew-that-spiritual-practice-is-impossible-without-great/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Commitment" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/yet-i-knew-that-spiritual-practice-is-impossible-without-great/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/742/jack-kornfield-936_commitment_yet-i-knew-that-spiritual-practice-is-im_2217896.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/742/jack-kornfield-936_commitment_yet-i-knew-that-spiritual-practice-is-im_2217896.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/742/jack-kornfield-936_commitment_yet-i-knew-that-spiritual-practice-is-im_2217896.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Yet I knew that spiritual practice is impossible without great dedication, energy, and commitment.” — 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": "Yet I knew that spiritual practice...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/yet-i-knew-that-spiritual-practice-is-impossible-without-great/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/yet-i-knew-that-spiritual-practice-is-impossible-without-great/#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 } } ] } ```