--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nonaggression and the Four Maras All the…" description: "\"“Nonaggression and the Four Maras All the maras point the way to being completely awake and alive by letting go, by letting ourselves die moment after ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d7/pema-ch-dr-n-327_avoiding-pain_nonaggression-and-the-four-maras-all-the_2362945.png" --- # Nonaggression and the Four Maras All the maras point the… ![“Nonaggression and the Four Maras All the maras point the way to being completely awake and alive by letting go, by letting ourselves die moment after moment, at the end of each out-breath. When we wake up, we can live fully without seeking pleasure and avoiding pain, without re-creating ourselves…” quote by Pema Chödrön](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d7/pema-ch-dr-n-327_avoiding-pain_nonaggression-and-the-four-maras-all-the_2362945.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d7/pema-ch-dr-n-327_avoiding-pain_nonaggression-and-the-four-maras-all-the_2362945.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d7/pema-ch-dr-n-327_avoiding-pain_nonaggression-and-the-four-maras-all-the_2362945.png) > ““Nonaggression and the Four Maras All the maras point the way to being completely awake and alive by letting go, by letting ourselves die moment after moment, at the end of each out-breath. When we wake up, we can live fully without seeking pleasure and avoiding pain, without re-creating ourselves when we fall apart.”” [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. Awareness arises by repeatedly letting go of self‑identity with each breath, freeing us from craving and aversion. **In simple terms:** Let go each breath to stay awake. Key Takeaway Practice continual release. Themes mindfulness awakening impermanence Mood calm reflective Type spiritual philosophical When to use this quote - Meditation - stress relief - grief processing - daily mindfulness Key Concepts Buddhist practice non‑attachment death of ego Questions to Reflect On - How does each breath remind you of impermanence? - What fears arise when you stop seeking pleasure? A Different Perspective Letting go can feel destabilizing without guidance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Avoiding pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/avoiding-pain/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [If you think you’re the only person for whom life is painful, you’re wrong. 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And if you don't mind letting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/don-t-say-another-word-if-you-think-you-re-the-only-person-for-whom/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafón](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [Love isn’t putting chain on someone who wants to struggle and is ready to die for it, love is letting him die in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oriana-fallaci/love-isn-t-putting-chain-on-someone-who-wants-to-struggle-and-is/) [Oriana Fallaci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oriana-fallaci/) > [To be awake is to be alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/to-be-awake-is-to-be-alive/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“I've been numb for years, and I didn't realize it until after you appeared and - and made me feel something. Since then, these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-monir/i-ve-been-numb-for-years-and-i-didn-t-realize-it-until-after-you/) [Alexandra Monir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-monir/) > [Isn't overwhelming when life turns you down? it means that your awake and alive to be tested](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cath-chatto/isn-t-overwhelming-when-life-turns-you-down-it-means-that-your-awake/) [Cath Chatto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cath-chatto/) > [I look at the time with you to keep me awake and alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-gabriel/i-look-at-the-time-with-you-to-keep-me-awake-and-alive/) [Peter Gabriel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-gabriel/) > [I'm alive, for you I'm awake. Because of you. I'm alive. Told you I'm awake. Swallowing you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/godsmack/i-m-alive-for-you-i-m-awake-because-of-you-i-m-alive-told-you-i-m/) [Godsmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/godsmack/) > [It's getting harder to stay awake And my strength is fading fast You breathe into me at last I'm awake I'm alive Now I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel/it-s-getting-harder-to-stay-awake-and-my-strength-is-fading-fast-you/) [Rachel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel/) > [“Cause with you, I was awake, and with you, I was alive, and with you, I'm brave.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-rock/cause-with-you-i-was-awake-and-with-you-i-was-alive-and-with-you-i-m/) [J.A. Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-rock/) > [From experience we know that whenever we are truly awake and alive, we are also truly grateful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-steindl-rast/from-experience-we-know-that-whenever-we-are-truly-awake-and-alive-we/) [David Steindl-Rast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-steindl-rast/) > [“Well, life is not just a business of standing on dry land and occasionally getting your feet wet. 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The millions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/morning-is-when-i-am-awake-and-there-is-a-dawn-in-me-moral-reform-is/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) ## 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. 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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 Avoiding pain quotes > [Resisting and avoiding pain sucks energy-and time. The more you let yourself feel those minute-and-a-half hells, the quicker you'll start feeling those minute-and-a-half happinesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-newman/resisting-and-avoiding-pain-sucks-energy-and-time-the-more-you-let/) [Leigh Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-newman/) > [“The greatest satisfaction comes not from chasing pleasure and avoiding pain, but from the radical acceptance of life as it is, without fighting and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-levine/the-greatest-satisfaction-comes-not-from-chasing-pleasure-and/) [Noah Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-levine/) > [“The art of life is the art of avoiding pain: and he is the best pilot who steers clearest of the rocks and shoals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/the-art-of-life-is-the-art-of-avoiding-pain-and-he-is-the-best-pilot/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Remember and Share - Action is the second step in The Hook. - The action is the simplest behavior in anticipation of reward. -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nir-eyal/remember-and-share-action-is-the-second-step-in-the-hook-the-action/) [Nir Eyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nir-eyal/) > [“It sets a dangerous precedent. For avoiding pain? For avoiding life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowell-rainbow/it-sets-a-dangerous-precedent-for-avoiding-pain-for-avoiding-life/) Rowell Rainbow > [The underlying motivation that drives all addiction is our insistence on avoiding pain. However, the pain you are avoiding is based in the past,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-jacobson/the-underlying-motivation-that-drives-all-addiction-is-our-insistence/) [Leonard Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-jacobson/) > [“My house was built by a partnership called Desire and Ignorance; they often work together, and always with disastrous consequences. It’s surprising they aren’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-parke/my-house-was-built-by-a-partnership-called-desire-and-ignorance-they/) [Simon Parke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-parke/) > [“Nothing. Nothing. Just … isn’t giving up allowed sometimes? Isn’t it okay to say, ‘This really hurts, so I’m going to stop trying’?” “It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/nothing-nothing-just-isn-t-giving-up-allowed-sometimes-isn-t-it-okay/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“Where can I start slow and hold myself accountable?” And, “Where do I need to take that bigger leap? Where have I been avoiding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-hardy/where-can-i-start-slow-and-hold-myself-accountable-and-where-do-i/) [Darren Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-hardy/) > [Unexplained pain may sometimes direct our attention to something unacknowledged, something we are afraid to know or feel. Then it holds us to our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-naomi-remen/unexplained-pain-may-sometimes-direct-our-attention-to-something/) [Rachel Naomi Remen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-naomi-remen/) > [“Avoiding pain causes endless suffering for you and others. Avoiding pain is really selfishness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/avoiding-pain-causes-endless-suffering-for-you-and-others-avoiding/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“Human beings, he argued, are not hardwired for seeking pleasure and avoiding pain. They want meaning. In spite of what we say, we don’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-goins/human-beings-he-argued-are-not-hardwired-for-seeking-pleasure-and/) [Jeff Goins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-goins/) > [“To get some distance from this, you first need to get some perspective. Walk outside on a clear night and just look up into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-a-singer/to-get-some-distance-from-this-you-first-need-to-get-some-perspective/) [Michael A. Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-a-singer/) > [Epicurus recommends bread and cheese as the staple, and his emphasis is more on avoiding pain than on seeking pleasure, insofar as pleasure-seeking tends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-wilson/epicurus-recommends-bread-and-cheese-as-the-staple-and-his-emphasis/) [Catherine Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-wilson/) > [If men as individuals surrender to the call of their elementary instincts, avoiding pain and seeking satisfaction only for their own selves, the result…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/if-men-as-individuals-surrender-to-the-call-of-their-elementary/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) [Browse all 39 Avoiding pain quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/avoiding-pain/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Nonaggression and the Four Maras All the maras point the way to being completely awake and alive by letting go, by letting ourselves die moment after moment, at the end of each out-breath. 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