Pema Chödrön
Deirdre Blomfield-Brown
1936-present • American
BuddhismTibetan Buddhism
American Tibetan Buddhist nun and author. Resident teacher at Gampo Abbey, known for accessible teachings on working with difficult emotions.
Key Works
- When Things Fall Apart
- The Places That Scare You
- Start Where You Are
116
quotes in library
Quotes by Pema Chödrön
116 quotes“Refuge is the recognition that we are already grounded.”
refugeWhen Things Fall Apart
“To be a warrior is to make peace with not knowing.”
unknowingThe Places That Scare You
“Even our most painful experiences are part of our awakening.”
awakeningWhen Things Fall Apart
“Enlightenment is not a place we reach. It is a way of being awake.”
awakeningThe Places That Scare You
“Begin where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.”
practiceStart Where You Are
“Compassion arises naturally as the heart opens.”
compassionThe Places That Scare You
“Whatever is difficult — start there.”
practiceStart Where You Are
“In the openness of being, all things are welcome.”
opennessWelcoming the Unwelcome
“To live fully, we must learn to use things and love people, not love things and use people.”
priorityThe Places That Scare You
“Maitri is the doorway. Bodhichitta is the path.”
maitriThe Wisdom of No Escape
“The world is a stage where the play of awakening unfolds.”
awakeningThe Places That Scare You
“Every moment is a chance to turn it all around.”
freedomWhen Things Fall Apart
“In the moment of our choosing, we have the power. This is our greatest strength.”
freedomWhen Things Fall Apart
“Suffering is the first arrow; our resistance to it is the second.”
sufferingWhen Things Fall Apart
“Compassion is the ultimate expression of the highest human potential.”
compassionThe Places That Scare You
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