Book description
One of the most inspiring spiritual teachers of our time offers simple,
practical advice for living with less fear, less anxiety and a more open heart.
We always have a choice, Pema Chodron teaches: We can let the
circumstances of our lives harden us and make us increasingly resentful
and afraid, or we can let them soften us and make us kind.
This book shows us how to awaken our basic goodness and connect to
others. In her lively, contemporary voice, Chodron translates the wisdom
of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition for the layperson. Her fans come from
all religions and none. Her wisdom cuts across all traditions and
religions - appealing to everyone from the Dalai Lama's followers to
ordinary people trying to make sense of their lives.
This title went straight onto the bestseller lists in the USA when it
was originally published. Pema Chodron is a spiritual teacher for anyone
- whether they have a spiritual path or not. Her heartfelt advice and
wisdom (developed in her 20 years of practice as a Tibetan Buddhist nun
as well as her years previously as a normal 'housewife and mother') give
her a wide appeal. Particularly in these difficult times, this advice
strikes just the right note, offering us comfort and challenging us to
live deeply and contribute to creating a more loving world. 'It's
short, and so beautifully written that the reading is a pleasure -
speaks to people of all religious persuasions. The clearsighted
practicality of Chodron's approach to the practice of meditation is a
persuasive introduction to its benefits in our daily lives. Her voice is
, understanding, gently humorous, always kind and seemingly infinitely
wise.' The LA Times
'As one of Pema Chodron's grateful students, I have been learning the
most pressing and necessary lesson of all: how to keep opening wider my
own heart.' Alice Walker
'It is a lively and accessible take on ancient techniques for
transforming terror and pain into joy and compassion.' O, the Oprah
Winfrey magazine Pema Chodron is an American Buddhist nun and one of
the foremost students of Chogyam Trungpa, the renowned Tibetan
meditation master. She is the author of 'The Wisdom of No Escape,'
'Start Where You Are,' and the best-selling 'When Things Fall Apart.'
She is the resident teacher at Gampo Abbey, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia,
the first Tibetan monastry in North America established for Westerners.
