The path, in Pema Chödrön's teaching, is about meeting ourselves and meeting life fully. And the thing that gets in the way, over and over, is the mind. So she is asked what it means to have a mind at all, and how to work with it. The mind, she says, is very gifted at making stories. A thought arises, it hooks into the emotional body, and the storyline takes over. What matters is not having a perfect mind. It is understanding the tendency. That is what meditation is for. It is a lab, a training ground, where you sit still, the story starts, and at some point you notice, which she describes as almost like waking up. You see it, and see it, and see it again, until you know the mind's habit for what it is. Everything the Buddha taught, in her summary, comes down to getting out of our own way, because the mind keeps getting in it. The storyline runs about the past, about the future, about sadness, about worry, about pleasure. And when you step out of it, even briefly, what is there is not something you have to create. Clarity, warmth and openness are always here. The practice is simply to stop covering them. Then the harder question. What about the pain of thinking you will never get there, not in this lifetime? She says she does not work with people much anymore, but that this is one of the most common experiences on the path, and her answer is unhurried. Be patient with yourself. Do not give up on yourself, or on the process. Maybe it takes twenty years, maybe ten, maybe five. Sometimes it takes a whole lifetime. And one day, she says, you look back and find you have a sense of humour about the whole thing. Are you willing to see what the mind is doing, and have some humour about it, and just get out of your own way? Want to go deeper with Pema Chödrön? Join Sounds True for more teachings like this. Get your first month FREE at https://bit.ly/4ctecMn Subscribe to Sounds True's YouTube Channel ► https://bit.ly/SubscribeSTYT Sounds True is a mission-driven learning and media company, and a recognized leader in wellbeing, personal growth, and spiritual transformation. Partnering with the world’s foremost wisdom teachers and best-selling authors, the company reaches millions worldwide with its unique programs, digital learning experiences, and worldwide events. The company also features a variety of original series, weekly shows, and live online experiences on Sounds True One, its global platform and community with members across more than 125 countries. Sounds True is a Public Benefit Corporation and also the home of the Sounds True Foundation. Connect with us: ▪️Facebook: http://bit.ly/2XFIIeE ▪️Instagram: http://bit.ly/2UlEoiH ▪️Website: http://bit.ly/2tOl02d