Pema Chodron is an American author and Tibetan Buddhist. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English literature and a master’s in elementary education. Aside from that, she is also an ordained nun and a disciple of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche (Buddhist meditation master).
In 1981, she became the first American in the Vajrayana culture to become a fully ordained bhikkhunī (a fully ordained female monastic in Buddhism). Chodron has written and published several books, including The Wisdom of No Escape (1991), Start Where You Are (1994), When Things Fall Apart (1996), and many more.
Her inspiring words of wisdom gained attention all over the world, and people started to recognize her works even more. Here are the top Pema Chodron quotes that will continually inspire.
Fun fact: Before embracing monastic life, she was a schoolteacher and mother of two
Table of Contents
Pema Chödrön Quotes on Mindfulness & Presence
Mindfulness—the art of staying present and aware without judgment—is at the heart of Pema Chödrön’s teachings. She reminds us that embracing the moment as it is, even when difficult, opens the door to true peace.
You are the sky. Everything else—it’s just the weather.
— Pema Chödrön, When Things Fall Apart
This metaphor beautifully captures the idea that we are the vast, unchanging sky, while emotions and circumstances are temporary weather patterns. It encourages detachment from fleeting troubles.
Mindfulness isn’t difficult; we just need to remember to do it.
— Spoken in various talks
A simple but powerful reminder that mindfulness is accessible to everyone if we make it a habit.
The most fundamental aggression to ourselves… is to remain ignorant by not having the courage and the respect to look at ourselves honestly and gently.
— The Places That Scare You
Here, Pema urges gentle self-awareness as a pathway to healing.
Pema Chödrön Quotes on Courage & Fear
Pema’s words often revolve around meeting fear and uncertainty head-on with bravery and openness. She reframes fear not as an enemy but as a gateway to growth.
Fear is a natural reaction to moving closer to the truth.
— The Places That Scare You
This quote reminds us that fear signals we are on the path toward important personal discoveries.
You don’t have to control your thoughts. You just have to stop letting them control you.
— Spoken in talks and interviews
A liberating insight into handling anxiety and overthinking through mindfulness.
The only thing that’s ultimately real about your journey is the step that you are taking at this moment. That’s all there ever is.
— When Things Fall Apart
This invites us to focus courageously on the present action instead of fearing an unknown future.
Pema Chödrön Quotes on Compassion & Kindness
True compassion begins with ourselves and extends outward. Pema’s teachings highlight loving-kindness as a key to healing and connection.
Be kinder to yourself. And then let your kindness flood the world.
— From talks
This encourages the radical idea that self-compassion fuels our ability to help others.
When we practice generating compassion, we are on the path to becoming warriors of love.
— No Time to Lose
Compassion is presented not as weakness but as courageous strength.
Pema Chödrön Quotes on Letting Go & Acceptance
Letting go of control and accepting what is, even in hardship, are recurring themes in Pema’s work. She teaches that freedom arises when we stop resisting reality.
Only to the extent that we expose ourselves over and over to annihilation can that which is indestructible be found in us.
— When Things Fall Apart
This profound insight speaks to the paradox that embracing impermanence reveals our inner strength.
Don’t just do something, sit there.
— Popular Pema Chödrön saying from talks
A reminder that sometimes stillness and acceptance are the most courageous acts.
Nothing ever goes away until it has taught us what we need to know.
— When Things Fall Apart
Acceptance is a learning process, and struggle has purpose if we remain present.
Awakening Within—Pema Chödrön’s Gift
Pema Chödrön’s timeless wisdom teaches us how to embrace life’s challenges with courage, kindness, and mindful awareness. Her quotes are not just inspirational—they invite deep reflection and practical transformation.
Whether you are facing fear, loss, or uncertainty, these words offer gentle guidance toward peace and resilience. Let her teachings remind you that every moment, even the difficult ones, holds the potential for growth and awakening.
