---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We have to transform those ordinary…"
description: "\"We have to transform those ordinary actions of our day into dharma practice because otherwise nothing is going to move.\" — Tenzin Palmo"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96a/tenzin-palmo-1431_action_we-have-to-transform-those-ordinary-acti_2883142.png"
---

#  We have to transform those ordinary actions of our day…

![“We have to transform those ordinary actions of our day into dharma practice because otherwise nothing is going to move.” quote by Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96a/tenzin-palmo-1431_action_we-have-to-transform-those-ordinary-acti_2883142.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96a/tenzin-palmo-1431_action_we-have-to-transform-those-ordinary-acti_2883142.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96a/tenzin-palmo-1431_action_we-have-to-transform-those-ordinary-acti_2883142.png)

> “We have to transform those ordinary actions of our day into dharma practice because otherwise nothing is going to move.”

[Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/)

## About This Quote

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

Ordinary actions become spiritual practice when performed with intention, otherwise stagnation occurs.

**In simple terms:** Make daily deeds a spiritual practice.

Key Takeaway

Infuse intention into routine.

Themes

mindfulness spirituality action

Mood

peaceful focused

Type

spiritual practical

When to use this quote

- morning rituals
- volunteer work
- mindful eating
- exercise

Key Concepts

Intentionality dharma practice

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you turn a routine task into practice?
- What daily habit feels most meaningful?

A Different Perspective

Intentional practice requires discipline, not just intention.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Buddhism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhism/) [Dharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dharma/) [Practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice/)

## Related quotes

> [The very best players, when they are practicing, put everything they've got into it. But then they leave it for a while. And it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/the-very-best-players-when-they-are-practicing-put-everything-they-ve/)

[Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/)

> [In Dharma practice, the most important thing is to be very sincere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/in-dharma-practice-the-most-important-thing-is-to-be-very-sincere/)

[Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/)

> [We live in a society which is heading in one direction, so it's good to have at least a few friends who share the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/we-live-in-a-society-which-is-heading-in-one-direction-so-it-s-good/)

[Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/)

> [One has to find a balance. I don't say that when you leave it you forget all about the dharma or practice, but there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/one-has-to-find-a-balance-i-don-t-say-that-when-you-leave-it-you/)

[Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/)

> [The Tibetans are good at learning many skillful ways to show that everything we do becomes dharma practice, depending on which kind of approach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/the-tibetans-are-good-at-learning-many-skillful-ways-to-show-that/)

[Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/)

> [The dharma is the most precious thing in the world and we should put it at the center of our hearts and transform our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/the-dharma-is-the-most-precious-thing-in-the-world-and-we-should-put/)

[Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/)

> [All of the external circumstances and the rude and difficult people we meet, instead of getting angry, upset, or frustrated, we see that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/all-of-the-external-circumstances-and-the-rude-and-difficult-people/)

[Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/)

> [If you don't find that people find you're easier to live with than you were before, if you don't find that your heart is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/if-you-don-t-find-that-people-find-you-re-easier-to-live-with-than/)

[Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/)

> [“Dharma practice means physical hardship; it means that you shouldn't be pansies about it. You should exert yourselves wholeheartedly to engage in the practice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ngagpa-yeshe-dorje/dharma-practice-means-physical-hardship-it-means-that-you-shouldn-t/)

Ngagpa Yeshe Dorje

> [We underestimate the value of patience. It is possible that people might sometimes interrupt our meditation sessions or Dharma study, but they can never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/we-underestimate-the-value-of-patience-it-is-possible-that-people/)

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

> [To think that practice and realization are not one is a heretical view. In the Buddha Dharma, practice and realization are identical. Because one's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masao-abe/to-think-that-practice-and-realization-are-not-one-is-a-heretical/)

[Masao Abe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masao-abe/)

> [While 'Buddhism' suggests another belief system, 'dharma practice' suggests a course of action. The four ennobling truths are not propositions to believe; they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-batchelor/while-buddhism-suggests-another-belief-system-dharma-practice/)

[Stephen Batchelor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-batchelor/)

> [The art of dharma practice requires commitment, technical accomplishment, and imagination. As with all arts, we will fail to realize its full potential if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-batchelor/the-art-of-dharma-practice-requires-commitment-technical/)

[Stephen Batchelor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-batchelor/)

> [“Actually a solution &amp; a path to personal freedom. My own life's experience w/ both Dharma practice &amp; punk rock inspired me to try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-levine/actually-a-solution-a-path-to-personal-freedom-my-own-life-s/)

[Noah Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-levine/)

> [“We are participatory beings who inhabit a participatory reality, seeking relationships that enhance our sense of what it means to be alive. In terms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-batchelor/we-are-participatory-beings-who-inhabit-a-participatory-reality/)

[Stephen Batchelor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-batchelor/)

## More by Tenzin Palmo

> [All of us are playing roles, and there's nothing wrong with playing roles because we have to live in this world - the problem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/all-of-us-are-playing-roles-and-there-s-nothing-wrong-with-playing/)

[Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/)

> [The very best players, when they are practicing, put everything they've got into it. But then they leave it for a while. And it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/the-very-best-players-when-they-are-practicing-put-everything-they-ve/)

[Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/)

> [I really don't know what I could teach and don't really plan to teach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/i-really-don-t-know-what-i-could-teach-and-don-t-really-plan-to-teach/)

[Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/)

> [If you go to any nunnery and ask them what the main obstacle is, they'll always say low self-esteem and lack of confidence. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/if-you-go-to-any-nunnery-and-ask-them-what-the-main-obstacle-is-they/)

[Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/)

> [To really be of benefit to others as the Buddha always taught, we ourselves must first get out of the swamp. One of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/to-really-be-of-benefit-to-others-as-the-buddha-always-taught-we/)

[Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/)

> [For any practice to work, the mind which is meditating on the object must merge. Often they are facing each other. One has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/for-any-practice-to-work-the-mind-which-is-meditating-on-the-object/)

[Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/)

> [I've often said that the seventh paramita should be a sense of humor, so we don't take ourselves too seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/i-ve-often-said-that-the-seventh-paramita-should-be-a-sense-of-humor/)

[Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/)

> [If you take the time to study how to be a doctor and how to use your scalpel and your medicine, then there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/if-you-take-the-time-to-study-how-to-be-a-doctor-and-how-to-use-your/)

[Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/)

> [If we want to be musicians, dancers or sportspeople, we can download a certain amount and watch DVDs and read books, but in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/if-we-want-to-be-musicians-dancers-or-sportspeople-we-can-download-a/)

[Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/)

> [Realization is wonderful, but you have to expand it until there's not a single defilement left in the mind and the mind is completely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/realization-is-wonderful-but-you-have-to-expand-it-until-there-s-not/)

[Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/)

> [It's not a matter of how much you know or can define, or how many millions of mantras or thousands of prostrations you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/it-s-not-a-matter-of-how-much-you-know-or-can-define-or-how-many/)

[Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/)

> [We have compassion because of the incredible pain and suffering which we as unenlightened beings cause to ourselves and all others through our ignorance.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/we-have-compassion-because-of-the-incredible-pain-and-suffering-which/)

[Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/)

> [When I look back I can think that of course I've been lazy and haven't practiced as much as I could have and have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/when-i-look-back-i-can-think-that-of-course-i-ve-been-lazy-and-haven/)

[Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/)

> [We do have the precious opportunity of this human life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/we-do-have-the-precious-opportunity-of-this-human-life/)

[Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/)

> [I think the problem with Western students is they're very ambitious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/i-think-the-problem-with-western-students-is-they-re-very-ambitious/)

[Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/)

[Explore all 242 Tenzin Palmo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/)

## More Action quotes

> [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/)

[Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/)

> [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/)

[Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/)

> [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/)

[Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/)

> [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/)

[William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/)

> [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/)

[Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/)

> [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/)

[Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/)

> [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/)

[Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/)

> [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/)

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

> [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/)

[Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/)

> [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/)

[Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/)

> [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/)

[Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/)

> [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/)

[Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/)

> [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/)

[Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/)

> [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/)

[Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/)

[Browse all 14,940 Action quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "We have to transform those ordinary actions of our day into dharma practice because otherwise nothing is going to move.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Tenzin Palmo"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/we-have-to-transform-those-ordinary-actions-of-our-day-into-dharma/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Action"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/we-have-to-transform-those-ordinary-actions-of-our-day-into-dharma/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96a/tenzin-palmo-1431_action_we-have-to-transform-those-ordinary-acti_2883142.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96a/tenzin-palmo-1431_action_we-have-to-transform-those-ordinary-acti_2883142.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96a/tenzin-palmo-1431_action_we-have-to-transform-those-ordinary-acti_2883142.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“We have to transform those ordinary actions of our day into dharma practice because otherwise nothing is…” — Tenzin Palmo",
                "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": "Tenzin Palmo",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "We have to transform those ordinary...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/we-have-to-transform-those-ordinary-actions-of-our-day-into-dharma/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/we-have-to-transform-those-ordinary-actions-of-our-day-into-dharma/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
