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As long as our orientation is toward perfection or success, we will never learn about unconditional friendship with ourselves, nor will we find compassion.

Pema Chodron

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Pema Chodron
Age: 88
Born: 1936
Born: July 14
Clergyman
Philosopher
Writer
New York City
New York
Deirdre Blomfield-Brow
Never
Perfection
Friendship
Toward
Compassion
Success
Learn
Find
Orientation
Long
Unconditional

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True compassion does not come from wanting to help out those less fortunate than ourselves but from realizing our kinship with all beings.
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It is possible to move through the drama of our lives without believing so earnestly in the character that we play.
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It's hard to know whether to laugh or to cry at the human predicament. Here we are with so much wisdom and tenderness, and—without even knowing it—we cover it over to protect ourselves from insecurity. Although we have the potential to experience the freedom of a butterfly, we mysteriously prefer the small and fearful cocoon of ego.
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Holding on to anything blocks wisdom.
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When we protect ourselves so we won't feel pain, that protection becomes like armor, like armor that imprisons the softness of of the heart.
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If you work with your mind, instead of trying to change everything on the outside, that's how your temper will cool down.
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I'm here to tell you that the path to peace is right there, when you want to get away.
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Enlightenment is a direct experience with reality.
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Meditation is not a matter of trying to achieve ecstasy, spiritual bliss, or tranquillity, nor is it attempting to become a better person. It is simply the creation of a space in which we are able to expose and undo our neurotic games, our self-deceptions, our hidden fears and hopes.
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We can let the circumstances of our lives harden us so that we become increasingly resentful and afraid, or we can let them soften us and make us kinder and more open to what scares us. We always have this choice.
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By the way that we think and by the way that we believe in things, in that way our world is created.
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No one ever tells us to stop running away from fear...the advice we usually get is to sweeten it up, smooth it over, take a pill, or distract ourselves, but by all means make it go away. (5)
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Honesty without kindness, humor, and goodheartedness can be just mean.
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When you have made good friends with yourself, your situation will be more friendly too.
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Meditation is not about getting out of ourselves or achieving something better. It is about getting in touch with what you already are.
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