One of the hosts puts something to Pema Chödrön that many practitioners recognise. Since coming closer to the queasy feeling, they are tender more and more of the time, often near tears, with fewer of the old defences. In a way they felt more functional before all the meditation. Is something going in the wrong direction? Pema hears nothing wrong at all. What they describe is a more raw and frequent vulnerability, and one can live from that place with joy. Then she turns to the word itself. Compassion hurts. She always thought it sounded sweet, but it is very painful, because it means standing so fully in another person's shoes that you would do anything to help, and doing so as an equal rather than from above. It hurts, and it is still what brings life meaning and love. It hurts that my heart is getting bigger, she says. And that is worth hurting for. Fixed opinions were more comfortable, but they came with anxiety and isolation. In this place you become more in love with the world. She says she will die with no regrets because her heart and mind have expanded so much, and is asked about the things she wishes she had done differently. She has real regrets. Her approach is to bring them fully into the open and share them with someone, which is what the twice-monthly ceremony in her monastic tradition exists for. What is acknowledged can be laid aside and lived with at peace. What is hidden cannot. The memory still comes with a small sting. What it no longer has is spin-off. Her image is a finger on a burner: it hurts, and that is all. No storyline, no ripples going out and out. When something intense keeps pulling the mind back, you return, as gently as you can, to the origin of it. Want to go deeper with Pema Chödrön? Join Sounds True One 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