We’re always in some kind of mood. It might be sadness, it might be anger, it might be not much of anything, just a kind of blur. It might be humor or contentment. In any case, whatever it is, that’s the path.
When something hurts in life, we don’t usually think of it as our path or as the source of wisdom. In fact, we think that the reason we’re on the path is to get rid of this painful feeling. In this way, we naively cultivate a subtle aggression against ourselves. However, the fact is that anyone who has used the moments, days, and years of his or her life to become wiser, kinder, and more at home in the world has learned from what’s happening right now. We can aspire to be kind right in the moment, to relax and open our heart and mind to what is in front of us right in the moment. Now is the time. If there’s any possibility for enlightenment, it’s right now, not at some future time.

Pema Chödron
from the book When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times
Read a random quote or see all quotes by Pema Chödron.
Further quotes from the book When Things Fall Apart:
- Becoming unstuck
- Abandoning hope
- Drive all blames into oneself
- It’s just like that
- How are you
- Just being here again and again and again
- Cultivating Peace
- Disappointment
- Undoing of old ways of seeing
- Moving closer to the truth
- The perfect teacher
- The courage to look at ourselves honestly and gently
- Opening our hearts and minds beyond limit
- Awakening is essential
- Being with us
- The Possibility of Egolessness
- The path of true awakening
- Finding out what is true
- Flooding the world with your kindness