Author

Pema Chodron Quotes

American Buddhist teacher (1936– ) in the Tibetan tradition. Author of When Things Fall Apart and a leading interpreter of tonglen practice.

7 sourced quotes from Pema Chodron across Tonglen.

“When you breathe in, you take in someone else's pain. When you breathe out, you send out relief. The practice is about reversing the habit of avoidance.”

When Things Fall Apart · 1996 Tonglen

“The most fundamental aggression to ourselves, the most fundamental harm we can do, is to remain ignorant by not having the courage and the respect to look at ourselves honestly and gently.”

Start Where You Are · 1994 Tonglen

“Compassion is not a relationship between the healer and the wounded. It is a relationship between equals.”

When Things Fall Apart Tonglen

“Nothing ever goes away until it has taught us what we need to know.”

When Things Fall Apart Tonglen

“Maitri begins with the simple, radical act of being kind to yourself.”

The Places That Scare You · 2001 Tonglen

“Tonglen reverses the usual logic of avoiding suffering and seeking pleasure. In the process, we become liberated from a very ancient prison of selfishness.”

The Places That Scare You Tonglen

“There is a Tibetan word, shenpa. It means hooked. The moment you notice the hook — that noticing is freedom.”

Getting Unstuck · 2005 Tonglen