There isn't any hell or heaven except for how we relate to our world. Hell is just resistance to life.
This quote from Pema Chödrön emphasizes that our perceptions of suffering and bliss are largely constructed by our own mental and emotional responses to the world around us. Rather than viewing heaven or hell as external realms, it suggests that these states are internal experiences shaped by our attitudes and resistance. When we resist life's natural flow—be it through fear, attachment, or aversion—we create inner turmoil akin to hell. Conversely, acceptance and openness allow us to find peace amidst life's inevitable challenges. This perspective encourages a mindfulness that recognizes resistance as the root of suffering, urging us instead to embrace life fully, with all its imperfections. It highlights the importance of inner resilience and a compassionate attitude towards ourselves and others. Understanding that resistance is a form of suffering can be liberating; it means that much of our anguish is something we can change by shifting our perspective. Instead of battling life’s circumstances, we are invited to flow with them, cultivating a sense of spaciousness and acceptance. Such a shift can lead to profound inner peace, as we realize that our experience of heaven or hell is not preordained but created through the ways we relate to our circumstances. By consciously choosing openness, we free ourselves from the cycle of suffering and step into a more compassionate approach to living—a central theme in Buddhist philosophy and mindfulness practices as outlined in Chödrön's teachings.
