--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Meditation practice isn’t about trying to…" description: "\"Meditation practice isn’t about trying to throw ourselves away and become something better. It’s about befriending who we are already. The ground of pr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/613/pema-ch-dr-n-327_befriending_meditation-practice-isn-t-about-trying-t_1143198.png" --- # Meditation practice isn’t about trying to throw ourselves… ![“Meditation practice isn’t about trying to throw ourselves away and become something better. It’s about befriending who we are already. The ground of practice is you or me or whoever we are right now, just as we are. That’s the ground, that’s what we study, that’s what we come to know with…” quote by Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/613/pema-ch-dr-n-327_befriending_meditation-practice-isn-t-about-trying-t_1143198.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/613/pema-ch-dr-n-327_befriending_meditation-practice-isn-t-about-trying-t_1143198.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/613/pema-ch-dr-n-327_befriending_meditation-practice-isn-t-about-trying-t_1143198.png) > “Meditation practice isn’t about trying to throw ourselves away and become something better. It’s about befriending who we are already. The ground of practice is you or me or whoever we are right now, just as we are. That’s the ground, that’s what we study, that’s what we come to know with tremendous curiosity and interest.” [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. Meditation is not about rejecting your current self but about accepting and befriending it, studying it with curiosity. **In simple terms:** Accept yourself as you are during meditation. Key Takeaway Cultivate self‑acceptance through practice. Themes mindfulness self‑acceptance curiosity Mood calm reflective Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - daily meditation - stressful workday - therapy session - conflict resolution Key Concepts Buddhist practice self‑compassion Questions to Reflect On - How can you stay curious about your present self? - What habits reinforce self‑judgment? A Different Perspective May overlook the need for personal growth beyond acceptance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Befriending](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/befriending/) [Curiosity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/curiosity/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Meditation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meditation/) [Meditation practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meditation-practice/) [Practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice/) [Something better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/something-better/) ## Related quotes > [Meditation practice isn't about trying to throw ourselves away and become something better. It's about befriending who we are already.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/meditation-practice-isn-t-about-trying-to-throw-ourselves-away-and-3/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [Loving kindness towards ourselves doesn't mean getting rid of anything. It means we can still be crazy after all these years. We can still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/loving-kindness-towards-ourselves-doesn-t-mean-getting-rid-of/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [“Meditation practice isn’t about trying to throw ourselves away and become something better.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/meditation-practice-isn-t-about-trying-to-throw-ourselves-away-and-2/) [Pema Chödrön](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [It's helpful to remind yourself that meditation is about opening and relaxing with whatever arises, without picking and choosing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/it-s-helpful-to-remind-yourself-that-meditation-is-about-opening-and/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [Meditation is not a matter of trying to achieve ecstasy, spiritual bliss, or tranquillity, nor is it attempting to become a better person. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/meditation-is-not-a-matter-of-trying-to-achieve-ecstasy-spiritual/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [“Meditating with a goal or in order to accomplish something is not giving the practice a fair shake.Instead let yourself off the self-improvement treadmill,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-piver/meditating-with-a-goal-or-in-order-to-accomplish-something-is-not/) [Susan Piver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-piver/) > [Practice isn't the thing you do once you're good. Its the thing you do that makes you good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/practice-isn-t-the-thing-you-do-once-you-re-good-its-the-thing-you-do/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Practice isn't the thing you do once you're good. It's the thing you do that makes you good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/practice-isn-t-the-thing-you-do-once-you-re-good-it-s-the-thing-you/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [“Practice isn’t the thing you do once you’re good. It’s the thing you do that”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/practice-isn-t-the-thing-you-do-once-you-re-good-it-s-the-thing-you-2/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [The difficult thing about practice isn't learning to sit for an hour, or sit for a weekend, or go on a three-month retreat, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-rosenberg/the-difficult-thing-about-practice-isn-t-learning-to-sit-for-an-hour/) [Larry Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-rosenberg/) > [“What I have realized through practicing is that practice isn't about beng the best horse or the good horse or the poor horse or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/what-i-have-realized-through-practicing-is-that-practice-isn-t-about/) [Pema Chödrön](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [“And remember, the goal of practice isn't doing something until you get it right. It's doing it until you can't get it wrong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-kauflin/and-remember-the-goal-of-practice-isn-t-doing-something-until-you-get/) [Bob Kauflin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-kauflin/) > [For me, practice isn't doing scales but doing things like writing, jamming with other people, or playing gigs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-bolin/for-me-practice-isn-t-doing-scales-but-doing-things-like-writing/) [Tommy Bolin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-bolin/) > [Good teams understand how to compete, how to practice the right way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-muschamp/good-teams-understand-how-to-compete-how-to-practice-the-right-way/) [Will Muschamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-muschamp/) > [I may have spent a lot of time with the wrong people but at least it gave me practice for the right people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-may-have-spent-a-lot-of-time-with-the-wrong-people-but-at-least-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## 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 Befriending quotes > [Focus enough energy inward. Before befriending others, you have to be your own friend. Before making others happy, you have to make yourself happy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/focus-enough-energy-inward-before-befriending-others-you-have-to-be/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [When I shot 'Private Practice,' Amy Brenneman made a point of really befriending me before we started shooting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-amell/when-i-shot-private-practice-amy-brenneman-made-a-point-of-really/) [Stephen Amell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-amell/) > [I think first of all, the United States has got to adopt a policy of befriending and creating allies around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-sharpton/i-think-first-of-all-the-united-states-has-got-to-adopt-a-policy-of/) [Al Sharpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-sharpton/) > [“Speaking to him would mean learning about him. Understanding him. Maybe befriending him. I know what it is to travel with someone, to break…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabaa-tahir/speaking-to-him-would-mean-learning-about-him-understanding-him-maybe/) [Sabaa Tahir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabaa-tahir/) > [Befriending the life in others is sometimes a complex matter. There are times when we offer our strength and protection, but these are usually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-naomi-remen/befriending-the-life-in-others-is-sometimes-a-complex-matter-there/) [Rachel Naomi Remen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-naomi-remen/) > [My life is simple, my food is plain, and my quarters are uncluttered. In all things, I have sought clarity. I face the troubles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yi-sun-sin/my-life-is-simple-my-food-is-plain-and-my-quarters-are-uncluttered-in/) [Yi Sun-sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yi-sun-sin/) > [I like befriending my collaborators because I'd rather make music with people I like than people I pretend to like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charli-xcx/i-like-befriending-my-collaborators-because-i-d-rather-make-music/) [Charli XCX](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charli-xcx/) > [ Tony \[Touch\] is like my big brother. He's somebody that I grew up listening to. I've had the fortune of befriending a lot of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-smith/tony-touch-is-like-my-big-brother-he-s-somebody-that-i-grew-up/) [Justin Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-smith/) > [And that law of the land which is constitutional, supporting that principle of freedom in maintaining rights and privileges, belongs to all mankind, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/and-that-law-of-the-land-which-is-constitutional-supporting-that/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) > [Befriending provides a valuable lifeline to many people who feel isolated in their communities often as a result of ill health or poverty. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kennedy/befriending-provides-a-valuable-lifeline-to-many-people-who-feel/) [Charles Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kennedy/) > [There are many strengths in modern society, but one of its weaknesses is the breakdown of many of the old structures and networks that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-holloway/there-are-many-strengths-in-modern-society-but-one-of-its-weaknesses/) [Richard Holloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-holloway/) > [There is no halfway or lackadaisical way to fight lust. If you're not fighting your sin, you're befriending your sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trip-lee/there-is-no-halfway-or-lackadaisical-way-to-fight-lust-if-you-re-not/) [Trip Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trip-lee/) > [Focus enough energy inward. Before befriending others, you have to be your own friend. Before making others happy, you have to make yourself happy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/focus-enough-energy-inward-before-befriending-others-you-have-to-be-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There is little favorable to be said about poverty, but it was often an incubator of true friendship. Many people will appear to befriend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/there-is-little-favorable-to-be-said-about-poverty-but-it-was-often/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [May all beings everywhere plagued with sufferings of body and mind quickly be freed from their illnesses. May those frightened cease to be afraid,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/may-all-beings-everywhere-plagued-with-sufferings-of-body-and-mind/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) [Browse all 23 Befriending quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/befriending/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Meditation practice isn’t about trying to throw ourselves away and become something better. It’s about befriending who we are already. The ground of practice is you or me or whoever we are right now, just as we are. 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