--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Impermanence is a principle of harmony…" description: "\"Impermanence is a principle of harmony. When we don't struggle against it, we are in harmony with reality.\" — Pema Chodron" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec5/pema-ch-dr-n-327_accepting-reality_impermanence-is-a-principle-of-harmony-w_2882252.png" --- # Impermanence is a principle of harmony. When we don't… ![“Impermanence is a principle of harmony. When we don't struggle against it, we are in harmony with reality.” quote by Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec5/pema-ch-dr-n-327_accepting-reality_impermanence-is-a-principle-of-harmony-w_2882252.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec5/pema-ch-dr-n-327_accepting-reality_impermanence-is-a-principle-of-harmony-w_2882252.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec5/pema-ch-dr-n-327_accepting-reality_impermanence-is-a-principle-of-harmony-w_2882252.png) > “Impermanence is a principle of harmony. When we don't struggle against it, we are in harmony with reality.” [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Accepting change stops resistance, aligning us with the natural flow of life. **In simple terms:** Accept change, find harmony. Key Takeaway Embrace impermanence. Themes change acceptance harmony mindfulness Mood calm reflective Type spiritual philosophical When to use this quote - daily stress - grief - relationship loss - career transition - health challenges Key Concepts impermanence non‑attachment flow Questions to Reflect On - How does resisting change affect your wellbeing? - What small step can you take to accept a current change? A Different Perspective Resistance can be a protective instinct, making acceptance difficult. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accepting reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting-reality/) [Buddhism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhism/) [Harmony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harmony/) [Impermanence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impermanence/) [Meditation mindfulness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meditation-mindfulness/) [Mindfulness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mindfulness/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Transience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/transience/) ## Related quotes > [Everything in the world is conducted by gradual process. This seems to be the great principle of harmony in the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/everything-in-the-world-is-conducted-by-gradual-process-this-seems-to/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [“We have to make a consideration: emotional states are deeply influenced by external events, and here lies the problem. Since the external events are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-dandolo/we-have-to-make-a-consideration-emotional-states-are-deeply/) Andrea Dandolo > [Mindfulness meditation is the embrace of any and all mind states in awareness, without preferring one to another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-kabat-zinn/mindfulness-meditation-is-the-embrace-of-any-and-all-mind-states-in/) [Jon Kabat-Zinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-kabat-zinn/) > [I have seen that there are a number of people who benefit from doing loving kindness meditation, either prior to or along with mindfulness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/i-have-seen-that-there-are-a-number-of-people-who-benefit-from-doing/) [Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/) > [The basic root of happiness lies in our minds; outer circumstances are nothing more than adverse or favourable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthieu-ricard/the-basic-root-of-happiness-lies-in-our-minds-outer-circumstances-are/) [Matthieu Ricard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthieu-ricard/) > [When the mind goes beyond the thought of 'the me,' the experiencer, the observer, the thinker, then there is a possibility of a happiness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/when-the-mind-goes-beyond-the-thought-of-the-me-the-experiencer-the/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [Of all footprints, that of the elephant is supreme. Similarly, of all mindfulness meditations, that on death is supreme.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/of-all-footprints-that-of-the-elephant-is-supreme-similarly-of-all/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [We have only now, only this single eternal moment opening and unfolding before us, day and night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/we-have-only-now-only-this-single-eternal-moment-opening-and/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [If you want to experience the unalloyed ecstasy of life, you can accomplish this through the twin Buddhist practices of meditation and mindfulness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-want-to-experience-the-unalloyed-ecstasy-of-life-you-can/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [The whole secret of existence is to have no fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/the-whole-secret-of-existence-is-to-have-no-fear/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Meditation is the dissolution of thoughts in eternal awareness or pure consciousness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sivananda/meditation-is-the-dissolution-of-thoughts-in-eternal-awareness-or/) [Sivananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sivananda/) > [Meditation is not a means to an end. It is both the means and the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/meditation-is-not-a-means-to-an-end-it-is-both-the-means-and-the-end/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [It feels good. Kinda like when you have to shut your computer down, just sometimes when it goes crazy, you just shut it down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-degeneres/it-feels-good-kinda-like-when-you-have-to-shut-your-computer-down/) [Ellen DeGeneres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-degeneres/) > [Mindfulness meditation should be more than just watching what you are doing. What you really need to watch is your motivation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thubten-zopa-rinpoche/mindfulness-meditation-should-be-more-than-just-watching-what-you-are/) [Thubten Zopa Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thubten-zopa-rinpoche/) > [Meditation is the discovery that the point of life is always arrived at in the immediate moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-watts/meditation-is-the-discovery-that-the-point-of-life-is-always-arrived/) [Alan Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-watts/) ## More by Pema Chodron > [“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.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/life-s-work-is-to-wake-up-to-let-the-things-that-enter-into-your-life/) [Pema Chödrön](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [Since death is certain and the time of death is uncertain, what is the most important thing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/since-death-is-certain-and-the-time-of-death-is-uncertain-what-is-the/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/buddhist-words-such-as-compassion-and-emptiness-don-t-mean-much-until/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [The essence of generosity is letting go. Pain is always a sign that we are holding on to something - usually ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/the-essence-of-generosity-is-letting-go-pain-is-always-a-sign-that-we/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [“If the object of meditation were something concrete, something solid and graspable - an image or a statue or a dot on the floor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/if-the-object-of-meditation-were-something-concrete-something-solid/) [Pema Chödrön](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/it-s-a-transformative-experience-to-simply-pause-instead-of/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [“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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/the-essence-of-life-is-that-it-s-challenging-sometimes-it-is-sweet/) [Pema Chödrön](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [If we run a hundred miles an hour to the other end of the continent in order to get away from the obstacle, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/if-we-run-a-hundred-miles-an-hour-to-the-other-end-of-the-continent/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [“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.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/but-in-this-meditation-technique-we-are-with-the-out-breath-there-s/) [Pema Chödrön](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [“Nothing ever goes away until it has taught us what we need to know. Nothing ever really attacks us except our own confusion. Perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/nothing-ever-goes-away-until-it-has-taught-us-what-we-need-to-know/) [Pema Chödrön](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/so-even-if-the-hot-loneliness-is-there-and-for-1-6-seconds-we-sit/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/if-you-have-rage-and-righteously-act-it-out-and-blame-it-all-on/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [“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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/when-we-realize-that-the-path-is-the-goal-there-s-a-sense-of/) [Pema Chödrön](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [Every day is a new opportunity to work with what you have inside toward enlightenment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/every-day-is-a-new-opportunity-to-work-with-what-you-have-inside/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/if-someone-comes-along-and-shoots-an-arrow-into-your-heart-it-s/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) [Explore all 664 Pema Chodron quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) ## More Accepting reality quotes > [Accepting the reality of our sinfulness means accepting our authentic self. Judas could not face his shadow; Peter could. The latter befriended the impostor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/accepting-the-reality-of-our-sinfulness-means-accepting-our-authentic/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [Conservative feminism is such an artificial term that doesn't mean much to me. For me conservatism means accepting reality. I acknowledge that there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristina-schroder/conservative-feminism-is-such-an-artificial-term-that-doesn-t-mean/) [Kristina Schroder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristina-schroder/) > [If you want to zoom down the expert slope tomorrow, you have to fall down the bunny slope today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-lewis/if-you-want-to-zoom-down-the-expert-slope-tomorrow-you-have-to-fall/) [Cynthia Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-lewis/) > [Pisces have a hard time accepting reality. Once they do realize it, it hits them like a ton of bricks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/pisces-have-a-hard-time-accepting-reality-once-they-do-realize-it-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you become a lover of what is, the war is over.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/when-you-become-a-lover-of-what-is-the-war-is-over/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [Accepting reality yet hoping for great days to come is a necessity to keep on going forward and believing in You...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/accepting-reality-yet-hoping-for-great-days-to-come-is-a-necessity-to/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [I find that white people in general, including white liberals and even revolutionaries, are most inclined to call you a racist when they don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/runoko-rashidi/i-find-that-white-people-in-general-including-white-liberals-and-even/) [Runoko Rashidi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/runoko-rashidi/) > [Sometimes I wonder, what happened to us...Where did we go wrong...It be hard accepting reality without you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-i-wonder-what-happened-to-us-where-did-we-go-wrong-it-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Life is a learning experience and this is a very peaceful method of accepting the reality you face…”What will I learn?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-w-earle-lpc/life-is-a-learning-experience-and-this-is-a-very-peaceful-method-of/) [David W. Earle LPC](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-w-earle-lpc/) > [Confidence is simply that quiet assured feeling you have before you fall flat on your face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-binder/confidence-is-simply-that-quiet-assured-feeling-you-have-before-you/) Leonard Binder > [Abiding in peace makes us a threat to any storm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-johnson/abiding-in-peace-makes-us-a-threat-to-any-storm/) [Bill Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-johnson/) > [I'm not OK, you're not OK-and that's OK.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-sloane-coffin/i-m-not-ok-you-re-not-ok-and-that-s-ok/) [William Sloane Coffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-sloane-coffin/) > [They don't tell you this in school, Everybody plays the fool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smokey-robinson/they-don-t-tell-you-this-in-school-everybody-plays-the-fool/) [Smokey Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smokey-robinson/) > [That's what I mean by radical truth. I mean accepting reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/that-s-what-i-mean-by-radical-truth-i-mean-accepting-reality/) [Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/) > [Moving on means accepting reality and that's accepting what's NOT meant to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/moving-on-means-accepting-reality-and-that-s-accepting-what-s-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 56 Accepting reality quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accepting-reality/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Impermanence is a principle of harmony. 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