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The real thing that we renounce is the tenacious hope that we could be saved from being who we are.

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
Saved
Hope
Real
Thing
Tenacious
Renounce

More quotes by Pema Chodron

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Since death is certain and the time of death is uncertain, what is the most important thing?
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Don’t get caught up in hopes of what you’ll achieve and how good your situation will be some day in the future. What you do right now is what matters.
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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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Only in an open, nonjudgmental space can we acknowledge what we are feeling. Only in an open space where we're not all caught up in our own version of reality can we see and hear and feel who others really are, which allows us to be with them and communicate with them properly.
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Don't worry about achieving. Don't worry about perfection. Just be there each moment as best you can. When you realize you've wandered off again, simply very lightly acknowledge that. This light touch is the golden key to reuniting with our openness.
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In the end, that's what we all need more than anything else: to be there for each other, in every kind of situation.
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The approach is that the best way to use unwanted circumstances on the path of enlightenment is not to resist but to lean into them.
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Enlightenment is a direct experience with reality.
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The essence of generosity is letting go. Pain is always a sign that we are holding on to something - usually ourselves.
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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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Whatever you are doing, take the attitude of wanting it directly or indirectly to benefit others. Take the attitude of wanting it to increase your experience of kinship with your fellow beings.
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Difficult people are the greatest teachers.
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By not knowing, not hoping to know and not acting like we know what's happening, we begin to access our inner strength.
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When we are willing to stay even a moment with uncomfortable energy, we gradually learn not to fear it.
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Surrendering, letting go of possessiveness, and complete nonattachment-all are synonyms for accumulating merit.
Pema Chodron
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If you see a homeless person on the street, and they need food, housing, medical attention - if you can give that, do it. But at the same time, work with tonglen, because that is how you start dissolving the barrier between you and them.
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Patience takes courage. It is not an ideal state of calm. In fact, when we practice patience we will see our agitation far more clearly.
Pema Chodron
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Appreciate everything, even the ordinary... Especially the ordinary.
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We have two alternatives: either we question our beliefs - or we don't. Either we accept our fixed versions of reality- or we begin to challenge them. In Buddha's opinion, to train in staying open and curious - to train in dissolving our assumptions and beliefs - is the best use of our human lives.
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If there's any possibility for enlightenment, it's right now, not at some future time. Now is the time.
Pema Chodron