Exposing ourselves to annihilation ~ Pema Chödron
Only to the extent that we expose ourselves over and over to annihilation can that which is indestructible in us be found. Pema Chödron
Quote Archives: Pema Chödron
Opening our hearts to others ~ Pema Chödron
The only reason we don’t open our hearts and minds to other people is that they trigger confusion in us that we don’t feel brave enough or sane enough to deal with. To the degree that we look clearly and compassionately at ourselves, we feel confident and fearless about looking into someone else’s eyes. Pema […]
A principle of harmony ~ Pema Chödron
Impermanence is a principle of harmony. When we don’t struggle against it, we are in harmony with reality. Pema Chödron
Recognizing What’s Going On ~ Pema Chödron
Our habitual patterns are, of course, well established, seductive, and comforting. Just wishing for them to be ventilated isn’t enough. Mindfulness and awareness are key. Do we see the stories that we’re telling ourselves and question their validity? When we are distracted by a strong emotion, do we remember that it is part of our […]
Who we are right now ~ Pema Chödron
The point is that our true nature is not some ideal that we have to live up to. It’s who we are right now, and that’s what we can make friends with and celebrate. Pema Chödron
The vast sky of your mind ~ Pema Chödron
Let your experience pass through like stars in the vast sky of your mind. Nothing has to be too big of a problem. Pema Chödron
Heroic perseverance ~ Pema Chödron
We can put our whole heart into whatever we do; but if we freeze our attitude into for or against, we’re setting ourselves up for stress. Instead, we could just go forward with curiosity, wondering where this experiment will lead. This kind of open-ended inquisitiveness captures the spirit of enthusiasm, or heroic perseverance. Pema Chödron
The courage to look at ourselves honestly and gently ~ Pema Chödron
The most fundamental aggression to ourselves, the most fundamental harm we can do to ourselves, is to remain ignorant by not having the courage and the respect to look at ourselves honestly and gently. Pema Chödron
Meeting our edge ~ Pema Chödron
How do we renounce? How do we work with this tendency to block and to freeze and to refuse to take another step toward the unknown? If our edge is like a huge stone wall with a door in it, how do we learn to open that door and step through it again and again, […]
Practicing with Strong Emotions ~ Pema Chödron
When you touch a hot stove, as soon as you become aware of the pain, you immediately pull your hand away. You don’t let it rest on the burner in order to explore the pain. In the same way, we stay present with strong emotion only very briefly at first. The instruction is: short moments […]
Unfettered mind ~ Pema Chödron
If your mind is expansive and unfettered, you will find yourself in a more accommodating world, a place thats endlessly interesting and alive. That quality isnt inherent in the place but in your state of mind. The warrior longs to communicate that all of us have access to our basic goodness and that genuine freedom […]