--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The essence of practice is always the…" description: "\"The essence of practice is always the same: instead of falling prey to a chain reaction of revenge or self-hatred, we gradually learn to catch the emot..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/960/pema-ch-dr-n-327_chain-reactions_the-essence-of-practice-is-always-the-sa_2199429.png" --- # The essence of practice is always the same: instead of… ![“The essence of practice is always the same: instead of falling prey to a chain reaction of revenge or self-hatred, we gradually learn to catch the emotional reaction and drop the story lines.” quote by Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/960/pema-ch-dr-n-327_chain-reactions_the-essence-of-practice-is-always-the-sa_2199429.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/960/pema-ch-dr-n-327_chain-reactions_the-essence-of-practice-is-always-the-sa_2199429.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/960/pema-ch-dr-n-327_chain-reactions_the-essence-of-practice-is-always-the-sa_2199429.png) > “The essence of practice is always the same: instead of falling prey to a chain reaction of revenge or self-hatred, we gradually learn to catch the emotional reaction and drop the story lines.” [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. The quote teaches that instead of reacting with revenge or self‑hatred, we can observe our emotional response and let go of the narrative that fuels suffering. **In simple terms:** Catch emotions, drop the story, avoid revenge or self‑hatred. Key Takeaway Observe and release emotional narratives. Themes compassion mindfulness emotional regulation Mood calm insightful Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - conflict resolution - stress management - personal setbacks - relationship disputes Key Concepts Buddhist psychology cognitive therapy Questions to Reflect On - What stories do you tell yourself after a setback? - How can you notice and pause before reacting? A Different Perspective Changing deep‑seated habits takes time and effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chain reactions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chain-reactions/) [Chains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chains/) [Emotional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotional/) [Emotional reactions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotional-reactions/) [Essence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/essence/) [Essence Practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/essence-practice-2737673/) [Fall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fall/) [Hatred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hatred/) [Lines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lines/) [Practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice/) [Practice Instead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice-instead-4825239/) [Prey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prey/) [Reaction Revenge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reaction-revenge-4825238/) [Reactions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reactions/) [Revenge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revenge/) [Revenge Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revenge-self-2907125/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self hatred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-hatred/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) ## Related quotes > [“Well look, it seems as though you do have some experience now at least of threefold bliss, luminosity, and emptiness that is such an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-duff/well-look-it-seems-as-though-you-do-have-some-experience-now-at-least/) [Tony Duff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-duff/) > [Learned to love the fact recognized in the books seems to be only good things, O world, we capture the essence of your practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/learned-to-love-the-fact-recognized-in-the-books-seems-to-be-only/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [The essence of all practice is to be cool. Life is not worth getting excited about because whatever you perceive is an illusion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-essence-of-all-practice-is-to-be-cool-life-is-not-worth-getting/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“The essence of this practice is that when we encounter pain in our life we breathe into our heart with the recognition that others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/the-essence-of-this-practice-is-that-when-we-encounter-pain-in-our/) [Pema Chödrön](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [The only way to ease our pain is to experience it fully. Learn to stay with uneasiness, learn to stay with the tightening, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/the-only-way-to-ease-our-pain-is-to-experience-it-fully-learn-to-stay/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [The sad part is that all we're trying to do is not feel that underlying uneasiness. The sadder part is that we proceed in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/the-sad-part-is-that-all-we-re-trying-to-do-is-not-feel-that/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [Not causing harm requires staying awake. Part of being awake is slowing down enough to notice what we say and do. The more we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/not-causing-harm-requires-staying-awake-part-of-being-awake-is/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [Few things are more agreeable to self-love than revenge, and yet no cause so effectually restrains us from revenge as self-love. And this paradox…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/few-things-are-more-agreeable-to-self-love-than-revenge-and-yet-no/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [Revenge is self-defeating. It will eat away you until there is nothing left.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-bradford/revenge-is-self-defeating-it-will-eat-away-you-until-there-is-nothing/) [Chris Bradford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-bradford/) > [That love at first sight should happen to me, was Life's most delicious revenge on a self-opinionated fool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-boyer/that-love-at-first-sight-should-happen-to-me-was-life-s-most/) [Charles Boyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-boyer/) > [“They make only progress. Instead of revenge, self progress is more safe to downgrade others including enemy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lecturer-m-k-bhutta-scholar/they-make-only-progress-instead-of-revenge-self-progress-is-more-safe/) [Lecturer M K Bhutta Scholar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lecturer-m-k-bhutta-scholar/) > [The more we witness our emotional reactions and understand how they work, the easier it is to refrain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/the-more-we-witness-our-emotional-reactions-and-understand-how-they/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [“They began by controlling books of cartoons and then detective books and, of course, films, one way or another, one group or another, political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/they-began-by-controlling-books-of-cartoons-and-then-detective-books/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [When we smile, the muscles around our mouth are stretched and relaxed, just like doing yoga. Smiling is mouth yoga. We release the tension…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/when-we-smile-the-muscles-around-our-mouth-are-stretched-and-relaxed/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [Scientists say every action initiates an equal and opposite reaction. I say that's just the start. I say every action initiates a most unequal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-hopkins/scientists-say-every-action-initiates-an-equal-and-opposite-reaction/) [Ellen Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-hopkins/) ## 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 Chain reactions quotes > [The sad part is that all we're trying to do is not feel that underlying uneasiness. The sadder part is that we proceed in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/the-sad-part-is-that-all-we-re-trying-to-do-is-not-feel-that/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [Not causing harm requires staying awake. Part of being awake is slowing down enough to notice what we say and do. The more we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/not-causing-harm-requires-staying-awake-part-of-being-awake-is/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [Scientists say every action initiates an equal and opposite reaction. I say that's just the start. I say every action initiates a most unequal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-hopkins/scientists-say-every-action-initiates-an-equal-and-opposite-reaction/) [Ellen Hopkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-hopkins/) > [When we smile, the muscles around our mouth are stretched and relaxed, just like doing yoga. Smiling is mouth yoga. We release the tension…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/when-we-smile-the-muscles-around-our-mouth-are-stretched-and-relaxed/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [“They began by controlling books of cartoons and then detective books and, of course, films, one way or another, one group or another, political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/they-began-by-controlling-books-of-cartoons-and-then-detective-books/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [Heaven help a timid child in a trendy tide He really doesn't know That his heart's being taken for a ride Doing what the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-heard/heaven-help-a-timid-child-in-a-trendy-tide-he-really-doesn-t-know/) [Mark Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-heard/) > [The thought "It's impossible" sets off a chain reaction of other thoughts to prove you're right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-j-schwartz/the-thought-it-s-impossible-sets-off-a-chain-reaction-of-other/) [David J. 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When you get some selling coming in, it's almost like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-goldman/the-mood-in-the-market-is-one-of-a-high-level-of-caution-when-you-get/) [Albert Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-goldman/) > [My pen and paper causes a chain reaction, to get your brain relaxing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eminem/my-pen-and-paper-causes-a-chain-reaction-to-get-your-brain-relaxing/) [Eminem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eminem/) > [You can never get to a person's mind. You cannot know the different deeds and missions of happiness; you can't tell a screm of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ibi-kaslik/you-can-never-get-to-a-person-s-mind-you-cannot-know-the-different/) [Ibi Kaslik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ibi-kaslik/) > [It is often interesting, in retrospect, to consider the trifling causes that lead to great events. A chance encounter, a thoughtless remark - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-moyes/it-is-often-interesting-in-retrospect-to-consider-the-trifling-causes/) [Patricia Moyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-moyes/) > [We never know which of us will start the chain reaction. But one of us will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-beavan/we-never-know-which-of-us-will-start-the-chain-reaction-but-one-of-us/) [Colin Beavan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-beavan/) [Browse all 32 Chain reactions quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chain-reactions/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The essence of practice is always the same: instead of falling prey to a chain reaction of revenge or self-hatred, we gradually learn to catch the emotional reaction and drop the story lines.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Pema Chodron" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/the-essence-of-practice-is-always-the-same-instead-of-falling-prey-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Chain reactions" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/the-essence-of-practice-is-always-the-same-instead-of-falling-prey-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/960/pema-ch-dr-n-327_chain-reactions_the-essence-of-practice-is-always-the-sa_2199429.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/960/pema-ch-dr-n-327_chain-reactions_the-essence-of-practice-is-always-the-sa_2199429.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/960/pema-ch-dr-n-327_chain-reactions_the-essence-of-practice-is-always-the-sa_2199429.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The essence of practice is always the same: instead of falling prey to a chain reaction of revenge or…” — Pema Chodron", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Pema Chodron", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The essence of practice is always...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/the-essence-of-practice-is-always-the-same-instead-of-falling-prey-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/the-essence-of-practice-is-always-the-same-instead-of-falling-prey-to/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```