---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Even if they don't know that you are…"
description: "\"Even if they don't know that you are practicing for them, you are helping them and in turn they are helping you. They are actively helping you to devel..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc3/sogyal-rinpoche-2963_chance_even-if-they-don-t-know-that-you-are-pra_2481337.png"
---

#  Even if they don't know that you are practicing for them…

![“Even if they don't know that you are practicing for them, you are helping them and in turn they are helping you. They are actively helping you to develop your compassion, and so to purify and heal yourself. For me, all dying people are teachers, giving to all those who help them a chance to…” quote by Sogyal Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc3/sogyal-rinpoche-2963_chance_even-if-they-don-t-know-that-you-are-pra_2481337.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc3/sogyal-rinpoche-2963_chance_even-if-they-don-t-know-that-you-are-pra_2481337.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc3/sogyal-rinpoche-2963_chance_even-if-they-don-t-know-that-you-are-pra_2481337.png)

> “Even if they don't know that you are practicing for them, you are helping them and in turn they are helping you. They are actively helping you to develop your compassion, and so to purify and heal yourself. For me, all dying people are teachers, giving to all those who help them a chance to transform themselves through developing their compassion.”

[Sogyal Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sogyal-rinpoche/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Compassion grows when we aid others, especially the dying, who in turn nurture our own healing and transformation.

**In simple terms:** Helping others builds our own compassion and healing.

Key Takeaway

Aid others to heal yourself.

Themes

compassion healing interdependence mortality

Mood

reflective empathetic

Type

spiritual inspirational

When to use this quote

- caregiving
- end‑of‑life support
- volunteer work
- peer counseling

Key Concepts

Buddhist ethics spiritual growth

Questions to Reflect On

- How does caring for the dying change your view of life?
- What obstacles arise when offering compassion to strangers?

A Different Perspective

The benefit may be delayed or not reciprocated.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Heal Yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heal-yourself/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Teacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teacher/)

## Related quotes

> [We should try practicing helping others as much as possible, help them with what ever little we can, sometimes even if we have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/we-should-try-practicing-helping-others-as-much-as-possible-help-them/)

[Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/)

> [Bernard and I intend doing a lot with our lives and that includes actively helping other people. But how can we tell you our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-duvall/bernard-and-i-intend-doing-a-lot-with-our-lives-and-that-includes/)

[Shelley Duvall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-duvall/)

> [Developing compassion and wisdom and helping those in need is the true meaning of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/developing-compassion-and-wisdom-and-helping-those-in-need-is-the/)

[Geshe Kelsang Gyatso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/)

> [Nothing helps us build our perspective more than developing compassion for others. Compassion is a sympathetic feeling. It involves the willingness to put yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carlson/nothing-helps-us-build-our-perspective-more-than-developing/)

[Richard Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carlson/)

> [Developing compassion for Congress and politicians is a good way to begin practicing the new social activism if you want to make effective changes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/developing-compassion-for-congress-and-politicians-is-a-good-way-to/)

[Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/)

> [Looking at various means of developing compassion, I think empathy is an important factor: the ability to appreciate others' suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/looking-at-various-means-of-developing-compassion-i-think-empathy-is/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

> [If you don't love yourself, you cannot love others. You will not be able to love others. If you have no compassion for yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/if-you-don-t-love-yourself-you-cannot-love-others-you-will-not-be/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

> [“Forget what hurt you in the past, but never forget what it taught you. However, if it taught you to hold onto grudges, seek…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/forget-what-hurt-you-in-the-past-but-never-forget-what-it-taught-you/)

[Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/)

> [People killing, people dying, people lying, people blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william/people-killing-people-dying-people-lying-people-blind/)

[WillIAm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william/)

> [Everybody knows everybody's dying, that's why people are as good as they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moriarty/everybody-knows-everybody-s-dying-that-s-why-people-are-as-good-as/)

[Michael Moriarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moriarty/)

> [“Death loves death, not life. Dying people love to know that others die with them; it is a comfort to learn you are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/death-loves-death-not-life-dying-people-love-to-know-that-others-die/)

[Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/)

> [Why do dying people never shed tears?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-frisch/why-do-dying-people-never-shed-tears/)

[Max Frisch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-frisch/)

> [“What is it? Tens, I can see the stick up your arse from here. I'm dying remember? Dying people don't have time for silly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-kizer/what-is-it-tens-i-can-see-the-stick-up-your-arse-from-here-i-m-dying/)

[Amber Kizer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-kizer/)

> [A dying people tolerates the present, rejects the future, and finds its satisfactions in past greatness and half remembered glory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/a-dying-people-tolerates-the-present-rejects-the-future-and-finds-its/)

[John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/)

> [“Dying, he has that look dying people get in their eyes sometimes, happy and sad, tired and spiritually blessed, all at the same time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-wallace/dying-he-has-that-look-dying-people-get-in-their-eyes-sometimes-happy/)

[Daniel Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-wallace/)

## More by Sogyal Rinpoche

> [That goodness is what survives death, a fundamental goodness that is in each and every one of us. The whole of our life is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sogyal-rinpoche/that-goodness-is-what-survives-death-a-fundamental-goodness-that-is/)

[Sogyal Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sogyal-rinpoche/)

> [Why exactly are we so frightened of death that we avoid looking at it altogether? Somewhere, deep down, we know we cannot avoid facing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sogyal-rinpoche/why-exactly-are-we-so-frightened-of-death-that-we-avoid-looking-at-it/)

[Sogyal Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sogyal-rinpoche/)

> [The masters say if you create an auspicious condition in your body and your environment then meditation and realization will automatically arise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sogyal-rinpoche/the-masters-say-if-you-create-an-auspicious-condition-in-your-body/)

[Sogyal Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sogyal-rinpoche/)

> [At every moment in our lives we need compassion, but what more urgent moment could there be than when we are dying? What more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sogyal-rinpoche/at-every-moment-in-our-lives-we-need-compassion-but-what-more-urgent/)

[Sogyal Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sogyal-rinpoche/)

> [Theories are like patches on a coat, one day they just wear off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sogyal-rinpoche/theories-are-like-patches-on-a-coat-one-day-they-just-wear-off/)

[Sogyal Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sogyal-rinpoche/)

> [{While meditating} I sit quietly and rest in the nature of mind; I don't question or doubt whether I am in the "correct" state…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sogyal-rinpoche/while-meditating-i-sit-quietly-and-rest-in-the-nature-of-mind-i-don-t/)

[Sogyal Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sogyal-rinpoche/)

> [The most essential thing in life is to establish an unafraid, heartfelt communication with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sogyal-rinpoche/the-most-essential-thing-in-life-is-to-establish-an-unafraid/)

[Sogyal Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sogyal-rinpoche/)

> [The definition of mantra is "that which protects the mind." That which protects the mind from negativity, or that which protects you from your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sogyal-rinpoche/the-definition-of-mantra-is-that-which-protects-the-mind-that-which/)

[Sogyal Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sogyal-rinpoche/)

> [If all we know of mind is the aspect of mind that dissolves when we die, we will be left with no idea of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sogyal-rinpoche/if-all-we-know-of-mind-is-the-aspect-of-mind-that-dissolves-when-we/)

[Sogyal Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sogyal-rinpoche/)

> [Western laziness consists of cramming our lives with compulsive activity, so that there is no time at all to confront the real issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sogyal-rinpoche/western-laziness-consists-of-cramming-our-lives-with-compulsive/)

[Sogyal Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sogyal-rinpoche/)

> [The key to finding a happy balance in modern lives is simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sogyal-rinpoche/the-key-to-finding-a-happy-balance-in-modern-lives-is-simplicity/)

[Sogyal Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sogyal-rinpoche/)

> [The purpose of meditation is to awaken in us the sky-like nature of mind, and to introduce us to that which we really are,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sogyal-rinpoche/the-purpose-of-meditation-is-to-awaken-in-us-the-sky-like-nature-of/)

[Sogyal Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sogyal-rinpoche/)

> [The real glory of meditation lies not in any method but in its continual living experience of presence, in its bliss, clarity, peace, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sogyal-rinpoche/the-real-glory-of-meditation-lies-not-in-any-method-but-in-its/)

[Sogyal Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sogyal-rinpoche/)

> [Samsara is the mind turned outwardly, lost in its projections. Nirvana is the mind turned inwardly, recognizing its true nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sogyal-rinpoche/samsara-is-the-mind-turned-outwardly-lost-in-its-projections-nirvana/)

[Sogyal Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sogyal-rinpoche/)

> [“The simplicity of total trust is one of the most powerful forces in the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sogyal-rinpoche/the-simplicity-of-total-trust-is-one-of-the-most-powerful-forces-in/)

[Sogyal Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sogyal-rinpoche/)

[Explore all 144 Sogyal Rinpoche quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sogyal-rinpoche/)

## More Chance quotes

> [Before I debuted, it was my goal to make my debut, and afterwards, I aimed at winning champion titles on television music shows, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyuna/before-i-debuted-it-was-my-goal-to-make-my-debut-and-afterwards-i/)

[Hyuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyuna/)

> [I understand it's promotion, but no one ever gave me a chance. No one ever thought I'd be the champ, and look where I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stipe-miocic/i-understand-it-s-promotion-but-no-one-ever-gave-me-a-chance-no-one/)

[Stipe Miocic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stipe-miocic/)

> [I might, by chance, write something just as shoddy; But then I wouldn't show it to everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moliere/i-might-by-chance-write-something-just-as-shoddy-but-then-i-wouldn-t/)

[Moliere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moliere/)

> [When I get a chance to play golf or go on a boat with good people, take the boat out and put some lobsters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-mac/when-i-get-a-chance-to-play-golf-or-go-on-a-boat-with-good-people/)

[Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/)

> [The happy medium is television. And if you find a good suitor, you can do it for years. With movies, you roll the dice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-campbell/the-happy-medium-is-television-and-if-you-find-a-good-suitor-you-can/)

[Bruce Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-campbell/)

> [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/)

[Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/)

> [I have heard that if you pull a bent breath through the second hole of a harmonica tuned to the key of Georgia while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buddy-wakefield/i-have-heard-that-if-you-pull-a-bent-breath-through-the-second-hole/)

[Buddy Wakefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buddy-wakefield/)

> [There are times when we can feel destiny close around us like a fist around a doorknob. Sure, we can resist. But a knob…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/there-are-times-when-we-can-feel-destiny-close-around-us-like-a-fist/)

[Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/)

> [Pain held no terror for him. Pain was, if not friend, then family, something he had grown up with in his crèche, learning to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/pain-held-no-terror-for-him-pain-was-if-not-friend-then-family/)

[Paolo Bacigalupi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/)

> [Love changes people, for better or for worse. You could look at it as a chance for you to change. The best kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-changes-people-for-better-or-for-worse-you-could-look-at-it-as-a/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“It's not who, it's when”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-taubas/it-s-not-who-it-s-when/)

Alejandro Taubas

> [Childhood is Last Chance Gulch for happiness. After that, you know too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/childhood-is-last-chance-gulch-for-happiness-after-that-you-know-too/)

[Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/)

> [I thought my first few jobs would just be off, off, off, off, off broadway. And by chance and how the world works, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-dorfman/i-thought-my-first-few-jobs-would-just-be-off-off-off-off-off/)

[Tommy Dorfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-dorfman/)

> [If you’re worrying about the past, you’ve got a good chance of screwing up the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-a-tullman/if-you-re-worrying-about-the-past-you-ve-got-a-good-chance-of/)

[Howard A. Tullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-a-tullman/)

> [To be successful, one must take chances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-stargell/to-be-successful-one-must-take-chances/)

[Willie Stargell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-stargell/)

[Browse all 12,460 Chance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Even if they don't know that you are practicing for them, you are helping them and in turn they are helping you. They are actively helping you to develop your compassion, and so to purify and heal yourself. For me, all dying people are teachers, giving to all those who help them a chance to transform themselves through developing their compassion.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Sogyal Rinpoche"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sogyal-rinpoche/even-if-they-don-t-know-that-you-are-practicing-for-them-you-are/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Chance"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sogyal-rinpoche/even-if-they-don-t-know-that-you-are-practicing-for-them-you-are/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc3/sogyal-rinpoche-2963_chance_even-if-they-don-t-know-that-you-are-pra_2481337.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc3/sogyal-rinpoche-2963_chance_even-if-they-don-t-know-that-you-are-pra_2481337.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc3/sogyal-rinpoche-2963_chance_even-if-they-don-t-know-that-you-are-pra_2481337.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Even if they don't know that you are practicing for them, you are helping them and in turn they are helping…” — Sogyal Rinpoche",
                "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": "Sogyal Rinpoche",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sogyal-rinpoche/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Even if they don't know that...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sogyal-rinpoche/even-if-they-don-t-know-that-you-are-practicing-for-them-you-are/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sogyal-rinpoche/even-if-they-don-t-know-that-you-are-practicing-for-them-you-are/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
