Wholeheartedly do what it takes to awaken your clear-seeing intelligence, but one day at a time, one moment at a time. If we live that way, we will benefit this earth.
Pema ChodronCompassion isn't some kind of self-improvement project or ideal that we're trying to live up to. Having compassion starts and ends with having compassion for all those unwanted parts of ourselves, all those imperfections that we don't even want to look at.
Pema ChodronWhat's encouraging about meditation is that, even if we shut down, we can no longer shut down in ignorance. We see very clearly that we're closing off. That in itself begins to illuminate the darkness of ignorance.
Pema ChodronWhen you refrain from habitual thoughts and behavior, the uncomfortable feelings will still be there. They donโt magically disappear. Over the years, Iโve come to call resting with the discomfort โthe detox period,โ because when you donโt act on your habitual patterns, itโs like giving up an addiction. Youโre left with the feelings you were trying to escape. The practice is to make a wholehearted relationship with that
Pema Chodron