Pema Chodron Quotes

There's nothing that can help you understand your beliefs more than trying to explain them to an inquisitive child.

To change your mind about something is always difficult. I think that people who are big enough to admit they were wrong can be counted on your fingers.

I suppose what I like about Zen is that the teachers are constantly questioning your insight and challenging it, looking for sloppiness or laziness in it, and ways you can go past that.

I've come up with my own cure for a closed mind: try it once, and see.

God give me the wisdom to see the truth however contrary to my established beliefs.

Children have a very good idea of how to distinguish between fantasies and realities. It's just they are equally interested in exploring both.

And I like asking questions, to keep learning; people with big egos might not want to look unsure.

'What am I missing?' is a much more important question than 'How cool am I?'

One of the secrets of life is to keep our intellectual curiosity acute.

There is no such thing as an unreasonable question, or a silly question, or a frivolous question, or a waste-of-time question. It's your life, and you've got to get these answers.

There are certain things that can be asked that get me excited. It's never a thing where I think I'm too good, I'm just the type of person who likes to be enlightened. I don't like to go through the motions.

The rare person is still interested in new advances when they are adults. There is possibly a correlation with intelligence. In any case, you have to be fairly bright to keep learning and changing attitudes as you get older.

The beauty of Judaism is that it demands we ask questions, especially of ourselves.

I like disagreement because it forces both sides to question their own opinions and why they feel that way.

Somebody can say they don't understand why somebody drifts. But I've always found people who drift interesting, 'cause it shows me the game's not stagnant in their own head. They're thinking.

The boldness of asking deep questions may require unforeseen flexibility if we are to accept the answers.

Never, never rest contented with any circle of ideas, but always be certain that a wider one is still possible.

Be curious enough to keep an open mind to what's happening around you in society. You can look at yourself and the world at the same time.

My parents encouraged thought. You'll get through life better if you learn how to think.

To be conscious that you are ignorant is a great step to knowledge.

I had great mentors in my parents who always sought to understand the world around them. And they would push me to really think things through.

If you can get really good at destroying your own wrong ideas, that is a great gift.

I subscribe to the school that there are no dumb questions.

I always think there's something you can learn.

It's important to have people who will question you occasionally.