Quote

The essence of practice is always the same: instead of falling prey to a chain reaction of revenge or self-hatred, we gradually learn to catch the emotional reaction and drop the story lines.

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
Practice
Catch
Story
Revenge
Prey
Learn
Falling
Chain
Fall
Hatred
Gradually
Stories
Essence
Reaction
Self
Emotional
Drop
Always
Instead
Chains
Lines
Reactions

More quotes by Pema Chodron

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If you’re aggressive in your dealings, that’s how you’ll be regarded in the world. You might smile and give generously, but if you frequently explode in anger, people never feel comfortable in your presence and you’ll never have peace of mind.
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We hold on to hope, and hope robs us of the present moment.
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All the wars, all the hatred, all the ignorance in the world come out of being so invested in our opinions.
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Opening to the world begins to benefit ourselves and others simultaneously. The more we relate with others, the more quickly we discover where we're blocked.
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When we scratch the wound and give into our addictions we do not allow the wound to heal.
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One way to practice staying present is to simply sit still for a while and listen. For one minute, listen to the sounds close to you. For one minute, listen to the sounds at a distance. Just listen attentively.
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Enlightenment is a direct experience with reality.
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The central question of a warrior's training is not how we avoid uncertainty and fear but how we relate to discomfort.
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Compassion for others begins with kindness to ourselves.
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Use your life to wake you up.
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Honesty without kindness, humor, and goodheartedness can be just mean.
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It's important to remember, when we're out there aggressively working for reform, that, even if our particular issue doesn't get resolved, we are adding peace to the world. We have to do our best and at the same time give up all hope of fruition.
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It's helpful to remind yourself that meditation is about opening and relaxing with whatever arises, without picking and choosing.
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When you begin to touch your heart or let your heart be touched, you begin to discover that it's bottomless, that it doesn't have any resolution, that this heart is huge, vast, and limitless. You begin to discover how much warmth and gentleness is there, as well as how much space.
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It's not a terrible thing that we feel fear when faced with the unknown. It is part of being alive, something we all share.
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The first noble truth of the Buddha is that when we feel suffering, it doesn’t mean that something is wrong. What a relief.
Pema Chodron
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Patience is not learned in safety.
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Buddhism itself is all about empowering yourself, not about getting what you want.
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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.
Pema Chodron
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Feel the feelings and drop the story.
Pema Chodron