--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In other words, you could endlessly try…" description: "\"“In other words, you could endlessly try to have suffering cease by dealing with outer circumstances—and that’s usually what all of us do. It is the us..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a86/pema-ch-dr-n-327_happy-and-content_in-other-words-you-could-endlessly-try-t_346578.png" --- # In other words, you could endlessly try to have suffering… ![“In other words, you could endlessly try to have suffering cease by dealing with outer circumstances—and that’s usually what all of us do. It is the usual approach; you just try to solve the outer problem again and again and again. But the Buddha said something quite revolutionary, which most of us…” quote by Pema Chödrön](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a86/pema-ch-dr-n-327_happy-and-content_in-other-words-you-could-endlessly-try-t_346578.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a86/pema-ch-dr-n-327_happy-and-content_in-other-words-you-could-endlessly-try-t_346578.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a86/pema-ch-dr-n-327_happy-and-content_in-other-words-you-could-endlessly-try-t_346578.png) > ““In other words, you could endlessly try to have suffering cease by dealing with outer circumstances—and that’s usually what all of us do. It is the usual approach; you just try to solve the outer problem again and again and again. But the Buddha said something quite revolutionary, which most of us don’t really buy: if you work with your mind, you will alleviate all the suffering that seems to come from the outside. When something is bothering you—a person is bugging you, a situation is irritating you, or physical pain is troubling you—you must work with your mind, and that is done through meditation. Working with our minds is the only means through which we’ll actually begin to feel happy and contented with the world that we live in.”” [Pema Chödrön](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. True peace comes from inner work, not external fixes; meditation transforms suffering **In simple terms:** Inner work eases suffering Key Takeaway Practice meditation to change perception Themes mindfulness Buddhism inner transformation Mood calm insightful Type spiritual practical When to use this quote - daily stress - relationship conflict - physical pain Key Concepts meditation cognitive reframing spiritual practice Questions to Reflect On - What mental habits keep you stuck? - How can meditation complement external action? A Different Perspective Inner work alone may not solve systemic issues ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Happy and content](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happy-and-content/) [Happy and contented](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happy-and-contented/) [Meditation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meditation/) [Physical pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/physical-pain/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) ## Related quotes > [If you work with your mind, that will alleviate all the suffering that seems to come from the outside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/if-you-work-with-your-mind-that-will-alleviate-all-the-suffering-that/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [“I must choose to cease from suffering or to cease from loving.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/i-must-choose-to-cease-from-suffering-or-to-cease-from-loving/) [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) > [“Aron Moss wrote a wonderful article on this topic in which he explains, ”We don't really want answers, we don't want explanations, and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aron-moss/aron-moss-wrote-a-wonderful-article-on-this-topic-in-which-he/) Aron Moss > [See here, if a simple act of kindness or generosity, such as buying a loaf of bread for some poor working women, can mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-lawhead/see-here-if-a-simple-act-of-kindness-or-generosity-such-as-buying-a/) [Stephen R. Lawhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-lawhead/) > [“The shortest path to peace is listening to understand, empathy and a willingness to compromise to alleviate suffering.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-a-white/the-shortest-path-to-peace-is-listening-to-understand-empathy-and-a/) [Jeffrey A. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-a-white/) > [There is simply too much to be done for us all to go round 'enjoying ourselves.' When the world is perfect, then we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-richardson/there-is-simply-too-much-to-be-done-for-us-all-to-go-round-enjoying/) [Jon Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-richardson/) > [Instead of being satisfied to alleviate suffering, we shall labor hard and continually to prevent it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/instead-of-being-satisfied-to-alleviate-suffering-we-shall-labor-hard/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [The essence of compassion is a desire to alleviate the suffering of others and to promote their well-being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/the-essence-of-compassion-is-a-desire-to-alleviate-the-suffering-of/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [I believe psychology has done very well in working out how to understand and treat disease. But I think that is literally half-baked. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-seligman/i-believe-psychology-has-done-very-well-in-working-out-how-to/) [Martin Seligman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-seligman/) > [Whether I affect one person or an entire family, or even a group of people, I feel like I have resources and education and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chath-piersath/whether-i-affect-one-person-or-an-entire-family-or-even-a-group-of/) [Chath Piersath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chath-piersath/) > [Humanitarian issues must bring together all people who act in good faith trying to alleviate the suffering of people in dire need - especially…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergei-lavrov/humanitarian-issues-must-bring-together-all-people-who-act-in-good/) [Sergei Lavrov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergei-lavrov/) > [Prayer can solve more problems, alleviate more suffering, prevent more transgression, and bring about greater peace and contentment in the human soul than can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/prayer-can-solve-more-problems-alleviate-more-suffering-prevent-more/) [Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/) > [As a Christian, part of my obligation is to alleviate suffering. Explicit recognition of that in the Methodist tradition is one reason I'm comfortable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/as-a-christian-part-of-my-obligation-is-to-alleviate-suffering/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [We can choose to alleviate suffering. We can choose to work together for peace. We can make these changes - and we must.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/we-can-choose-to-alleviate-suffering-we-can-choose-to-work-together/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [As a physician, my core drive is to help alleviate suffering and if sharing my story could help others in some way, perhaps I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-ashton/as-a-physician-my-core-drive-is-to-help-alleviate-suffering-and-if/) [Jennifer Ashton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-ashton/) ## More by Pema Chödrön > [“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 Chödrön quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) ## More Happy and content quotes > [They say that extroverts are unhappier than introverts and have to compensate for this by constantly proving to themselves how happy and contented and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/they-say-that-extroverts-are-unhappier-than-introverts-and-have-to/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Osho used me and Shunyo (my girlfriend at the time) as an example of how he envisioned men and women should relate. He shared…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-anand-milarepa/osho-used-me-and-shunyo-my-girlfriend-at-the-time-as-an-example-of/) Swami Anand Milarepa > [I want Thy plan, O God, for my life. May I be happy and contented whether in the homeland or on the foreign field;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-want-thy-plan-o-god-for-my-life-may-i-be-happy-and-contented/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [They told me I didn't understand the assignment, I told them they didn't understand life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/they-told-me-i-didn-t-understand-the-assignment-i-told-them-they-didn/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennon/when-i-went-to-school-they-asked-me-what-i-wanted-to-be-when-i-grew/) [John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennon/) > [People who have tried it, tell me that a clear conscience makes you very happy and contented; but a full stomach does the business…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/people-who-have-tried-it-tell-me-that-a-clear-conscience-makes-you/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) > [I wish that my husband's friends had left him where he is, happy and contented in retirement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-harrison/i-wish-that-my-husband-s-friends-had-left-him-where-he-is-happy-and/) Anna Harrison > [I was very, very young, living in India. I'd been put to bed in the afternoon, and I had that lovely feeling you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-rigg/i-was-very-very-young-living-in-india-i-d-been-put-to-bed-in-the/) [Diana Rigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-rigg/) > [The rapid growth of industry, the ever increasing population and the imperative need for more varied, wholesome and nourishing foodstuff makes it all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington-carver/the-rapid-growth-of-industry-the-ever-increasing-population-and-the/) [George Washington Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington-carver/) > [“It feels so great when things finally fall into places and you can smile all over again seeing that incomplete puzzle all complete in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadia/it-feels-so-great-when-things-finally-fall-into-places-and-you-can/) Nadia > [I'm happy and content in my life, and I chalk that up to wonderful parents and a wonderful God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/i-m-happy-and-content-in-my-life-and-i-chalk-that-up-to-wonderful/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [I don't like to be labeled as lonely just because I'm alone. I feel the other way around. Happy and contented.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-don-t-like-to-be-labeled-as-lonely-just-because-i-m-alone-i-feel/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I learned early in life not to judge others. We outcasts are very happy and content to leave that job to our social superiors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-waters/i-learned-early-in-life-not-to-judge-others-we-outcasts-are-very/) [Ethel Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-waters/) > [There is so much to love and to admire in this life that it is an act of ingratitude not to be happy and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lin-yutang/there-is-so-much-to-love-and-to-admire-in-this-life-that-it-is-an-act/) [Lin Yutang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lin-yutang/) > [Be happy with what you have. Be excited about what you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cohen/be-happy-with-what-you-have-be-excited-about-what-you-want/) [Alan Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cohen/) [Browse all 72 Happy and content quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happy-and-content/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“In other words, you could endlessly try to have suffering cease by dealing with outer circumstances—and that’s usually what all of us do. It is the usual approach; you just try to solve the outer problem again and again and again. But the Buddha said something quite revolutionary, which most of us don’t really buy: if you work with your mind, you will alleviate all the suffering that seems to come from the outside. When something is bothering you—a person is bugging you, a situation is irritating you, or physical pain is troubling you—you must work with your mind, and that is done through meditation. 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