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Birth and death Quote by Pema Chödrön

“There is a story of a woman running away from tigers. She runs and runs and the tigers are getting closer and closer. When she comes to the edge of a cliff, she sees some vines there, so she climbs down and holds on to the vines. Looking down, she sees that there are tigers below her as well. She…” quote by Pema Chödrön
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““There is a story of a woman running away from tigers. She runs and runs and the tigers are getting closer and closer. When she comes to the edge of a cliff, she sees some vines there, so she climbs down and holds on to the vines. Looking down, she sees that there are tigers below her as well. She then notices that a mouse is gnawing away at the vine to which she is clinging. She also sees a beautiful little bunch of strawberries close to her, growing out of a clump of grass. She looks up and she looks down. She looks at the mouse. Then she just takes a strawberry, puts it in her mouth, and enjoys it thoroughly. Tigers above, tigers below. This is actually the predicament that we are always in, in terms of our birth and death. Each moment is just what it is. It might be the only moment of our life; it might be the only strawberry we’ll ever eat. We could get depressed about it, or we could finally appreciate it and delight in the preciousness of every single moment of our life.””

Pema Chödrön

About This Quote

Source Talk: Mindfulness Retreat, 2010

Life is precarious; each moment offers both danger and simple pleasure, urging present‑moment awareness.

In simple terms: Every instant contains risk and joy; savor the now.

Key Takeaway

Embrace each moment fully, despite surrounding threats.

Themes

mindfulness impermanence acceptance joy spirituality

Mood

calm hopeful

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

  • daily meditation
  • stressful work
  • health challenges
  • travel experiences

Key Concepts

non‑attachment present‑moment focus existential reflection

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you balance awareness of danger with enjoyment?
  • What simple practices bring you into the present?
A Different Perspective

Focusing only on the present can ignore long‑term planning needs.

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