Everything We Need

We already have everything we need. There is no need for self-improvement. All these trips that we lay on ourselves— the heavy-duty fearing that we're bad and hoping that we're good, the identities that we so dearly cling to, the rage, the jealousy and the addictions of all kinds-never touch our basic wealth. They are like clouds that temporarily block the sun.

But all the time our warmth and brilliance are right here. This is who we really are. We are one blink of an eye away trom being fully awake.

Looking at ourselves this way is very different from our usual habit. From this perspective we don't need to change: you can feel as wretched as you like, and you're still a good candidate for enlightenment. You can feel like the world's most hopeless basket case, but that feeling is your wealth, not something to be thrown out or improved upon.

~ Pema Chödrön