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If you work with your mind, that will alleviate all the suffering that seems to come from the outside.

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
Outside
Suffering
Seems
Come
Work
Mind
Alleviate

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Surrendering, letting go of possessiveness, and complete nonattachment-all are synonyms for accumulating merit.
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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.
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Never underestimate the desire to bolt.
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Holding on to anything blocks wisdom.
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Patience is not learned in safety.
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At the root of all the harm we cause is ignorance.
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To live is to be willing to die over and over again.
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When we resist change, it’s called suffering. But when we can completely let go and not struggle against it, when we can embrace the groundlessness of our situation and relax into it’s dynamic quality, that’s called enlightenment
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As each breath goes out, let it be the end of that moment and the birth of something new. . .
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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.
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When people are hurting, what they really need is someone who is fully there for them - not someone who is condescending or officious. The only way for you to be there for them is by facing your fear or anger, whatever feelings cause you to shut down.
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If there's any possibility for enlightenment, it's right now, not at some future time. Now is the time.
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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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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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Clarity and decisiveness come from the willingness to slow down, to listen to and look at what’s happening.
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You build inner strength through embracing the totality of your experience, both the delightful parts and the difficult parts.
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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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Meditation takes us just as we are, with our confusion and our sanity. This complete acceptance of ourselves as we are is called maitri, or unconditional friendliness, a simple, direct relationship with the way we are.
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Enlightenment is a direct experience with reality.
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Discomfort of any kind becomes the basis for practice. We breathe in knowing our pain is shared.
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