--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The resistance to the unpleasant…" description: "\"The resistance to the unpleasant situation is the root of suffering.\" — Ram Dass" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be5/ram-dass-784_acceptance_the-resistance-to-the-unpleasant-situati_1587900.png" --- # The resistance to the unpleasant situation is the root of… ![“The resistance to the unpleasant situation is the root of suffering.” quote by Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be5/ram-dass-784_acceptance_the-resistance-to-the-unpleasant-situati_1587900.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be5/ram-dass-784_acceptance_the-resistance-to-the-unpleasant-situati_1587900.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be5/ram-dass-784_acceptance_the-resistance-to-the-unpleasant-situati_1587900.png) > “The resistance to the unpleasant situation is the root of suffering.” [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Avoiding discomfort creates suffering; acceptance of unpleasantness reduces pain. **In simple terms:** Suffering comes from resisting pain. Key Takeaway Accept discomfort to lessen suffering. Themes mindfulness acceptance spirituality Mood calm introspective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - therapy sessions - meditation practice - stressful work environments Key Concepts attachment mental suffering Questions to Reflect On - What uncomfortable feelings do you resist? - How can acceptance change your experience? A Different Perspective Acceptance can be difficult; may lead to passivity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acceptance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acceptance/) [Resistance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resistance/) [Roots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roots/) [Spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Yoga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yoga/) ## Related quotes > [Attachment is the root of all suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-leon/attachment-is-the-root-of-all-suffering/) Sean Leon > [If you study your own struggles, the struggles of others, even in movies or novels you'll see the root of all their suffering is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmin-mogahed/if-you-study-your-own-struggles-the-struggles-of-others-even-in/) [Yasmin Mogahed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmin-mogahed/) > [Although the Buddhists will tell you that desire is the root of suffering, my personal experience leads me to point the finger at system…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-greenspun/although-the-buddhists-will-tell-you-that-desire-is-the-root-of/) [Philip Greenspun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-greenspun/) > [The root of suffering is attachment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/the-root-of-suffering-is-attachment/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [“be free of suffering and the root of suffering.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/be-free-of-suffering-and-the-root-of-suffering/) [Pema Chödrön](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [“As the Supreme Buddha once said, “The root of suffering is attachment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominique-francon/as-the-supreme-buddha-once-said-the-root-of-suffering-is-attachment/) [Dominique Francon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominique-francon/) > [“the root of suffering is neither the feeling of pain nor of sadness nor even of meaninglessness. 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Listen to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/the-spiritual-journey-is-individual-highly-personal-it-can-t-be/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [The mental suffering you create is always some form of non-acceptance, some form of unconscious resistance to what is. On the level of thought,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/the-mental-suffering-you-create-is-always-some-form-of-non-acceptance/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [The yoga of love is the yoga of acceptance. Love teaches us that which is most important is self-acceptance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-yoga-of-love-is-the-yoga-of-acceptance-love-teaches-us-that-which/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Accepting means you allow yourself to feel whatever it is you are feeling at that moment. It is part of the isness of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/accepting-means-you-allow-yourself-to-feel-whatever-it-is-you-are/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [The writings of latter-day prophets clearly teach that the sorrows and sufferings endured by Adam and Eve upon their leaving the Garden of Eden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-k-judd/the-writings-of-latter-day-prophets-clearly-teach-that-the-sorrows/) Daniel K Judd > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) ## More by Ram Dass > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [This is the pathless path - returning to where you were initially before you got lost. The deepest truth in you is where the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/this-is-the-pathless-path-returning-to-where-you-were-initially/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [Souls love. That’s what souls do. Egos don’t, but souls do. Become a soul, look around, and you’ll be amazed-all the beings around you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/souls-love-that-s-what-souls-do-egos-don-t-but-souls-do-become-a-soul/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [I would like my life to be a statement of love and compassion--and where it isn't, that's where my work lies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/i-would-like-my-life-to-be-a-statement-of-love-and-compassion-and/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [The spiritual journey is individual, highly personal. It can't be organized or regulated. It isn't true that everyone should follow one path. Listen to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/the-spiritual-journey-is-individual-highly-personal-it-can-t-be/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [The person who says, 'I'm enlightened' probably isn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/the-person-who-says-i-m-enlightened-probably-isn-t/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [Accidents are just from where you're looking; to the ego, it looks like it's miracles and accidents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/accidents-are-just-from-where-you-re-looking-to-the-ego-it-looks-like/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [Fear of death only comes through the brittleness of the ego.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/fear-of-death-only-comes-through-the-brittleness-of-the-ego/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [Just because you are seeing divine light, experiencing waves of bliss, or conversing with Gods and Goddesses is no reason to not know your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/just-because-you-are-seeing-divine-light-experiencing-waves-of-bliss/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [Along with faith comes the requirement for dogged persistence. At first meditation may bring you mild highs or some relief from suffering. But there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/along-with-faith-comes-the-requirement-for-dogged-persistence-at/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [I help people as a way to work on myself, and I work on myself to help people ... to me, that's what the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/i-help-people-as-a-way-to-work-on-myself-and-i-work-on-myself-to-help/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [Old age spiritualizes people naturally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/old-age-spiritualizes-people-naturally/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [The ego is a tool. You don't separate it. It's a tool for the spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/the-ego-is-a-tool-you-don-t-separate-it-it-s-a-tool-for-the-spirit/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [It's very hard to grow, because it's difficult to let go of the models of ourselves in which we've invested so heavily.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/it-s-very-hard-to-grow-because-it-s-difficult-to-let-go-of-the-models/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [All that you seek is already within you. In Hinduism it is called the Atman, in Buddhism the pure Buddha-Mind. Christ said, 'the kingdom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/all-that-you-seek-is-already-within-you-in-hinduism-it-is-called-the/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) [Explore all 369 Ram Dass quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) ## More Acceptance quotes > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [You dont choose your life; it chooses you. Theres no point asking why life has reserved certain joys or griefs, you just accept them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-dont-choose-your-life-it-chooses-you-theres-no-point-asking-why/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When one fib becomes due as it were, you must forge another to take up the old acceptance; and so the stock of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/when-one-fib-becomes-due-as-it-were-you-must-forge-another-to-take-up/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [Acceptance of death when it arrives is one thing, but to allow it to upstage the joys of living is ingratitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-blythe/acceptance-of-death-when-it-arrives-is-one-thing-but-to-allow-it-to/) [Ronald Blythe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-blythe/) > [“Loving someone who does not love you back hurts, alot, i know. It is liking seeing these pair of shoes at the retail store…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nomthandazo-tsembeni/loving-someone-who-does-not-love-you-back-hurts-alot-i-know-it-is/) [Nomthandazo Tsembeni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nomthandazo-tsembeni/) > [Take responsibily for your past, the bad memories of poor decisions you took were your choices once, and you liked them for the moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aruho-marvin/take-responsibily-for-your-past-the-bad-memories-of-poor-decisions/) [Aruho Marvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aruho-marvin/) > [Let us learn to accept and appreciate things now, and we'll find more happiness in every moment we live. Happiness comes when we stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/let-us-learn-to-accept-and-appreciate-things-now-and-we-ll-find-more/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [“Love first; ask questions later.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-courtney/love-first-ask-questions-later/) [Jeremy Courtney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-courtney/) > [“There was beauty in chaos, she'd just never known it before.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-linsmeier/there-was-beauty-in-chaos-she-d-just-never-known-it-before/) [Amanda Linsmeier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-linsmeier/) > [Accepting the challenges in life makes it interesting and overcoming them makes it eloquent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/accepting-the-challenges-in-life-makes-it-interesting-and-overcoming/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Acceptance is the only thing you should teach. Be it Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Dalit, you must inculcate acceptance, not tolerance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamal-haasan/acceptance-is-the-only-thing-you-should-teach-be-it-christian-muslim/) [Kamal Haasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamal-haasan/) > [There just seems to be more acceptance now of other kinds of British films, than the picture-postcard ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-roth/there-just-seems-to-be-more-acceptance-now-of-other-kinds-of-british/) [Tim Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-roth/) > [You should never hate anyone, even your worst enemies. Everyone has something good about them. You have to find the redeeming quality and love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/you-should-never-hate-anyone-even-your-worst-enemies-everyone-has/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [The sense that in this universe we are treated as strangers, the longing to be acknowledged, to meet with some response, to bridge some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-sense-that-in-this-universe-we-are-treated-as-strangers-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 3,960 Acceptance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acceptance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The resistance to the unpleasant situation is the root of suffering.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ram Dass" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/the-resistance-to-the-unpleasant-situation-is-the-root-of-suffering/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Acceptance" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/the-resistance-to-the-unpleasant-situation-is-the-root-of-suffering/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be5/ram-dass-784_acceptance_the-resistance-to-the-unpleasant-situati_1587900.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be5/ram-dass-784_acceptance_the-resistance-to-the-unpleasant-situati_1587900.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be5/ram-dass-784_acceptance_the-resistance-to-the-unpleasant-situati_1587900.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The resistance to the unpleasant situation is the root of suffering.” — Ram Dass", "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": "Ram Dass", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The resistance to the unpleasant situation...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/the-resistance-to-the-unpleasant-situation-is-the-root-of-suffering/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/the-resistance-to-the-unpleasant-situation-is-the-root-of-suffering/#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 } } ] } ```