“One evening Milarepa returned to his cave after gathering firewood, only to find it filled with demons. They were cooking his food, reading his books, sleeping in his bed. They had taken over the joint. He knew about nonduality of self and other, but he still didn’t quite know how to get these guys out of his cave. Even though he had the sense that they were just a projection of his own mind—all the unwanted parts of himself—he didn’t know how to get rid of them. So first he taught them the dharma. He sat on this seat that was higher than they were and said things to them about how we are all one. He talked about compassion and shunyata and how poison is medicine. Nothing happened. The demons were still there. Then he lost his patience and got angry and ran at them. They just laughed at him. Finally, he gave up and just sat down on the floor, saying, “I’m not going away and it looks like you’re not either, so let’s just live here together.” At that point, all of them left except one. Milarepa said, “Oh, this one is particularly vicious.” (We all know that one. Sometimes we have lots of them like that. Sometimes we feel that’s all we’ve got.) He didn’t know what to do, so he surrendered himself even further. He walked over and put himself right into the mouth of the demon and said, “Just eat me up if you want to.” Then that demon left too.”
Pema Chödrön“In Buddha’s opinion, to train in staying open and curious—to train in dissolving our assumptions and beliefs—is the best use of our human lives.”
Pema Chödrön, The Pocket Pema Chodron“PATIENCE is the antidote to anger, a way to learn to love and care for whatever we meet on the path.”
Pema Chödrön, The Pocket Pema Chodron“We have two alternatives: either we question our beliefs - or we don't. Either we accept our fixed versions of reality- or we begin to challenge them. In Buddha's opinion, to train in staying open and curious - to train in dissolving our assumptions and beliefs - is the best use of our human lives.”
Pema Chödrön, The Pocket Pema Chodron“The calligraphy reads, “Pointing directly at your own heart, you find Buddha.” Listening to talks about the dharma, or the teachings of Buddha, or practicing meditation is nothing other than studying ourselves.”
Pema Chödrön, The Pocket Pema Chodron“In sitting meditation, we train in mindfulness and unconditional friendliness: in being steadfast with our bodies, our emotions, our thoughts.”
Pema Chödrön, The Pocket Pema Chodron“Meditation practice isn’t about trying to throw ourselves away and become something better.”
Pema Chödrön, The Pocket Pema Chodron“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.”
Pema Chödrön, The Pocket Pema Chodron“Meditation is a totally nonviolent, nonaggressive occupation.”
Pema Chödrön, The Pocket Pema Chodron“Meditation practice is not about later, when you get it all together and you’re this person you really respect.”
Pema Chödrön, The Pocket Pema Chodron“IN practicing meditation, we’re not trying to live up to some kind of ideal—quite the opposite.”
Pema Chödrön, The Pocket Pema Chodron