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When Things Fall Apart, The Places That Scare You, Start Where You Are, 10% Happier 4 Books Collection Set

Book by Pema Chödrön · 4 quotes · Aggression, Behavior, Bravery

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When Things Fall Apart, The Places That Scare You, Start Where You Are, 10% Happier 4 Books Collection Set Quotes

“What does it take to use the life we already have in order to make us wiser rather than more stuck? What is the source of wisdom at a personal, individual level? To the degree that I've understood the teachings, the answer to these questions seems to have to do with bringing everything that we encounter to the path. Everything naturally has a ground, path and fruition. This is like saying that everything has a beginning, a middle and an end. But it is also said that the path itself is both the ground and the fruition. So, one sometimes reads, the path is the goal. This path has one very distinct characteristic, it is not prefabricated, it doesn't already exist. The path that we're talking about is the moment by moment evolution of our experience. The moment by moment evolution of the world of phenomena. The moment by moment evolution of our thoughts and our emotions. The path is not Route 66 destination Los Angeles. It's not as if we can take out a map and figure out that this year we might make it to Gallup, New Mexico and maybe by 2001 we'll be in LA. The path is uncharted. It comes into existence moment by moment and at the same time drops away behind us. It's like riding in a train sitting backwards. We can't see where we're headed, only where we've been. This is a very encouraging teaching because it says the source of wisdom is whatever is going to happen to us today. The source of wisdom is whatever is happening to us right at this very instant. We're always in some kind of mood. It might be sadness, it might be anger, it might be not much of anything, just a kind of blur. It might be humor or contentment. In any case, whatever it is, that's the path. When something hurts in life, we don't usually think of it as our path or as the source of wisdom. In fact we think that the reason we're on the path is to get rid of this painful feeling. When I get to LA I won't feel this way anymore. At that level of wanting to get rid of our feeling, we naively cultivate a subtle aggression against ourselves. However the fact is that anyone who has used the moments and days and years of his or her life to become wiser, kinder, and more at home in the world has learned from what has happened right now. We can aspire to be kind right in the moment, to relax and open our heart and mind to what is in front of us right in the moment. Now is the time. If there is any possibility for enlightenment, it's right now. Not at some future time. Now is the time. Now is the only time.”

PainKindnessNow Is The Time
Book:When Things Fall Apart, The Places That Scare You, Start Where You Are, 10% Happier 4 Books Collection Set
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“To what do we really commit ourselves? Is it to palying it safe and to manipulating our life and our whole world, so that it will give us security and confirmation?...Do we refuge in small satisfied actions, of both speech and mind? Or do we take refuge in warriorship, in taking a leap, in going beyond our usual safety zones?”

LifeInspirationalWisdomLife LessonsCourageBravery
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“The difference between theism and non-theism is not whether one does or does not believe in god. It is an issue that applies to everyone, including Buddhists and Non-Buddhists. Theism is a deep seated conviction that there is some hand to hold. If we we just do the right things someone will appreciate us and take care of us. It means thinking there will always be a babysitter available when we need one. We are all inclined to abdicate our responsibilities and delegate our authority to something outside ourselves. Non-Theism is relaxing with the ambiguity and uncertainty of the present moment without reaching for anything to protect ourselves. We sometimes think that Dharma is something outside ourselves, something to believe in, something to measure up to, however, Dharma isn't a belief. It isn't dogma. It is total appreciate of impermanence and change. The teachings disintegrate when we try to grasp them. We have to experience them without hope. Many brave and compassionate people have experienced them and taught them. The message is fearless. Dharma was never meant to be a belief that we blindly follow. Dharma gives us nothing to hold on to at all. Non-Theism is finally realizing that there is no babysitter that you can count on, you just get a good one and then he or she is gone. Non-Theism is realizing that it's not just babysitters that come and go, the whole of life is like that. This is the truth. And the truth is inconvenient. For those who want something to hold onto, life is even more inconvenient.”

UncertaintyDharmaTheism Versus Atheism
Book:When Things Fall Apart, The Places That Scare You, Start Where You Are, 10% Happier 4 Books Collection Set
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“Everyday we could think about the aggression in the world. In New York, Los Angelos, Halifax, Taiwain, Beiruit, Kuwait, Somalia, Iraq. Everywhere. All over the world, everybody always strikes out at the enemy. And the pain escalates forever. Everyday we could reflect on this and ask ourselves, "Am I going to add to the aggression in the world?" Everyday, at the moment when things get edgy, we could just ask ourselves, "Am I going to practice peace, or am I going to war?”

PeaceBehaviorAggression
Book:When Things Fall Apart, The Places That Scare You, Start Where You Are, 10% Happier 4 Books Collection Set
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