Pema Chodron Quotes

The Buddha taught that we’re not actually in control, which is a pretty scary idea. But when you let things be as they are, you will be a much happier, more balanced, compassionate person.

The most difficult times for many of us are the ones we give ourselves.

It isn’t what happens to us that causes us to suffer; it’s what we say to ourselves about what happens.

You are the sky. Everything else – it’s just the weather.

Nothing ever goes away until it has taught us what we need to know.

As Buddhism moved from one culture to another, it always adapted.

Sometimes people’s spiritual ideas become fixed and they use them against those who don’t share their beliefs – in effect, becoming fundamentalist. It’s very dangerous – the finger of righteous indignation pointing at someone who is identified as bad or wrong.

As Buddhism moved to the West, one of the big characteristics was the strong place of women. That didn’t exist in the countries of origin. It’s just a sign of our culture.

Be kinder to yourself. And then let your kindness flood the world.

If right now our emotional reaction to seeing a certain person or hearing certain news is to fly into a rage or to get despondent or something equally extreme, it’s because we have been cultivating that particular habit for a very long time.

If we learn to open our hearts, anyone, including the people who drive us crazy, can be our teacher.

Difficult things provoke all your irritations and bring your habitual patterns to the surface. And that becomes the moment of truth. You have the choice to launch into your lousy habitual patterns, or to stay with the rawness and discomfort of the situation and let it transform you.

This moving away from comfort and security, this stepping out into what is unknown, uncharted and shaky – that’s called liberation.

Compassion is not a relationship between the healer and the wounded. It’s a relationship between equals. Only when we know our own darkness well can we be present with the darkness of others. Compassion becomes real when we recognize our shared humanity.

One of the deepest habitual patterns that we have is to feel that now is not enough.

Most spiritual experiences begin with suffering. They begin with groundlessness. They begin when the rug has been pulled out from under us.

There’s something delicious about finding fault with something. And that can be including finding fault with one’s self, you know?