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51st out of 409 books
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464 voters
Comfortable with Uncertainty: 108 Teachings on Cultivating Fearlessness and Compassion
This book offers short, stand-alone readings designed to help us cultivate compassion and awareness amid the challenges of daily living. More than a collection of thoughts for the day, Comfortable with Uncertainty offers a progressive program of spiritual study, leading the reader through essential concepts, themes, and practices on the Buddhist path.
Comfortable with Unc...more
Comfortable with Unc...more
Paperback, 222 pages
Published
December 30th 2003
by Shambhala
(first published 2002)
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Have you ever heard the adage, “When the student is ready, the teacher appears.”
This book is like that for me. I have had it for a few months now, and dipped into its very very short chapters from time to time. But recently I read it fully and it lifted a blind in my window.
Of course I had to get past the “Four truths of enlightenment” and the “Six beliefs of compassion” and the “Three ways of feeling pain“. The trite phrase “be here now” that I see in management training seminars and the seemi...more
This book is like that for me. I have had it for a few months now, and dipped into its very very short chapters from time to time. But recently I read it fully and it lifted a blind in my window.
Of course I had to get past the “Four truths of enlightenment” and the “Six beliefs of compassion” and the “Three ways of feeling pain“. The trite phrase “be here now” that I see in management training seminars and the seemi...more
Years ago while in a period of personal turmoil, a dear friend of mine recommended a book titled ‘When Things Fall Apart” by female Buddhist monk Pema Chodron. I remember reading it and feeling connected to this woman’s words, and enjoying her writings of introductory Buddhism for the lay person. Now many years later I find myself yearning and seeking more out of life, and am interested in delving deeper into the practice and philosophy of Buddhist thought. I picked up a copy of the author’s boo...more
Jul 18, 2010
Frank Jude
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
every student of Yoga/Dharma.
Shelves:
buddhism,
philosophy-spirituality
This is a great, little book: 108 pithy teachings and instructions forming an integrated course of practice of vipassana, lojong, the four brahma-viharas, tonglen and the bodhisattva paramitas. The first year it came out, I read it through, one teaching a day for 108 days, reflecting on the teachings and following the practices. Then, I began again and did it two more times as an almost year-long practice. Since then, I've encouraged several of my students to take up that practice and they have...more
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This book takes a look a how we deal with our uncertain lives and times. Chodron is a Buddhist nun and she uses the teachings of Buddhism to illustrate her points throughout the book, which is actually excerpts of lectures she has given around the world. This is far from doctrinaire religion or self-help as possible, in fact she gently chides religious thinking as just another way for a person to escape from what is truly real and look for a "hand to hold" which isn't really there. The idea of w...more
In this book Buddhist nun Pema Chodron explains basic ideas of Buddhism, such as being alive in the present moment, staying open to suffering and strong emotions instead of shutting down, and learning to relax in the middle of chaos. She emphasizes honesty, gentleness, curiosity, interconnectedness, and being compassionate towards ourselves and others. These concepts are an antidote to the stereotypical American strategies of denying and repressing feelings, focusing on the future, using technol...more
This is a great "beside table" kind of book. Pema Chödrön is an American Buddhist nun in the lineage of Chögyam Trungpa. She is resident teacher at Gampo Abbey in Nova Scotia, the first Tibetan monastery in North America established for Westerners. She does an excellent job of translating Buddhist teachings into Western terms and reference. There is also a helpful glossary in the back, which I appreciated. The book is in 108 mini-chapters, so you can read them in whatever order you want. It does...more
Oct 02, 2008
Glenna
is currently reading it
this book is absolutely amazing! It teaches so much about learning to live with fear and pain and how those things actually make life worth living and...I don't even know how to begin to expain it but it's based a lot on buddhist principles...check it out, really!
This book found its way into my hands at the perfect moment. I'd been struggling with consistently getting to my meditation cushion. A lay Buddhist monk suggested that I needed to develop joy around sitting. Reading one or two of the pithy chapters in this book aroused such joy. I've read several books by Pema and watched her DVD series on The Way of the Bodhisattva, so I already admired her teaching. How terrific to find her instruction encapsulated in a collection of two page readings. Not onl...more
I really enjoyed this book. This is an example of a passage from the book that I found conveys the basic message of the book:
"The central question is not how to avoid uncertainty and fear but how we relate to discomfort. How do we practice with difficulty, with our emotions, with the unpredictable encounters of an ordinary day? For those of us with a hunger to know the truth, painful emotions are like flags going up to say "You're stuck!" We regard disappointment, embarrassment, irritation, jea...more
"The central question is not how to avoid uncertainty and fear but how we relate to discomfort. How do we practice with difficulty, with our emotions, with the unpredictable encounters of an ordinary day? For those of us with a hunger to know the truth, painful emotions are like flags going up to say "You're stuck!" We regard disappointment, embarrassment, irritation, jea...more
This is the third or fourth book by Pema Chodron that I've read in the past five-or-so years. I'd be hard pressed to differentiate among them. That's not a negative comment, though. In every book, Pema's basically telling the same story: she's sharing the messages of the Buddha on how to alleviate dukkha (suffering, dissastisfaction) and live more sanely. Like any good teacher, she makes her points in various ways so that we're more likely to get the message: maybe understand more clearly, catch...more
I listened to each disc in this book twice (disc 1 twice, then disc 2 twice and so on). It is one that you can pop a disc in, listen for five minutes, and get something of value. I know I will listen through it many times in the future-- and each time will hear something new.
This book is a great introduction to many Buddhist concepts which challenged (in a positive way) my self-concept and the way I approach obstacles and emotions. I am looking forward to "reading" more of her work.
Note: the na...more
This book is a great introduction to many Buddhist concepts which challenged (in a positive way) my self-concept and the way I approach obstacles and emotions. I am looking forward to "reading" more of her work.
Note: the na...more
I simply picked this up to satisfy my curiosity about Pema Chödrön whose name I had heard here and there. These are 108 short sections that give you a flavor of some sort of Tibetan Buddhism. They are a little different than Zen, which is what appeals to me much more, in that concepts like "loving-kindness," "bodhichitta-warrior," and "tonglen" are central. I didn't find myself extremely comfortable with all this but I enjoyed the book nonetheless. Chödrön has a very gentle and balanced voice an...more
This book is a wonderful book for getting into meditation. It bring in many of the Buddhist teaching and actually give some instructions on what to focus on and the concepts of "Tonglen" while you meditate (basically breathing in the negative thoughts and breathing out compassion). I would recommend this book to anyone looking to find themselves and connect with their core values and develop compassion and understand of themselves and others. Pema writes in a such a welcoming manner that it almo...more
Apr 01, 2012
Teresa
added it
My experience with Pema Chodron so far has been limited to: The Places that Scare you (only book I've read besides this one) and some of her audio teachings.
I didn't much get into Places. However, I love her voice and her tone in her Audio teachings. Very simple without being condescending, compassionate without being self-righteous- those attitudes I found reflected in this book.
This book is set up almost like a Christian devotional would be, with 108 "teachings." However, it's pertinent, to th...more
I didn't much get into Places. However, I love her voice and her tone in her Audio teachings. Very simple without being condescending, compassionate without being self-righteous- those attitudes I found reflected in this book.
This book is set up almost like a Christian devotional would be, with 108 "teachings." However, it's pertinent, to th...more
I discovered Pema Chodron through a link on facebook by Marty Howes (thanks, Marty!!!). I have been reading about Buddhism for awhile now because I don't believe in conventional religion. Buddhism is about peace, love, and co-existing (I know, I sound like a 60's hippie). It's helping me embrace Tonglen -- taking in sufffering and sending forth compassion. Working with the Wounded Warriors from Iraq and Afghanistan allowed me to employ this practice daily. A great read especially if you're stru...more
A multifaceted jewel and game-changer.
When I was in DC this summer my friend Stephen gave me this book. I wasn’t even able to glance at it until we got back to Negril, but I loved the title. I recall checking out When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chodron years ago, but at that time I wasn’t ready to dwell deeply on these ideas.
I read this book slowly, a couple of pages a day. It consists of 108 short chapters excerpted from Pema’s previous books. This is all about how to live our lives better on a...more
When I was in DC this summer my friend Stephen gave me this book. I wasn’t even able to glance at it until we got back to Negril, but I loved the title. I recall checking out When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chodron years ago, but at that time I wasn’t ready to dwell deeply on these ideas.
I read this book slowly, a couple of pages a day. It consists of 108 short chapters excerpted from Pema’s previous books. This is all about how to live our lives better on a...more
A compilation of 108 short lessons. This book has made it's way from my bookshelf to my bedside table numerous times over the years. Each time I read it, I find new meaning. Basic Tibetan Buddhist concepts, presented in layman’s terms, applicable to anyone’s life - regardless of what your belief system is. This is a beautiful little book which I will never really be finished with. I am not sure if there is anything more important than becoming comfortable with uncertainty. It is thought provokin...more
I like this book, but hate her audio books because she slurps like an old lady and it makes me want to throw up. I couldn't listen to them anymore and threw it away, but I like her overall message of serenity through spiritualism. Although I've never been able to console myself within her particular faith, it is absolutely wonderful to see someone adopt an attitude of preservance that is an example to us in these days of divorce and worldly misery. The patience to succeed is not common.
The organization of these passages makes it much more than just a collection of excerpts. Although it's all material from Pema Chodron's previous works, the pattern of 1-2 page messages makes it easy to turn to when I catch myself shutting down. Each lesson is quick but transforming, and comes exactly in the order it should. Chodron's writing style alone brings a calmness to me. Excellent for compassionately accepting your moods and life events.
The third Pema Chodron book on CD that I listened to. 108 is the number of prayer beads on a Buddhist mala. These are 108 short, 2-3 page teachings. A good introduction/overview, and another way of touching on the things she says in the other CDs of hers that I have listened to. Some topics: bodhichitta; the boddhisattva warrior; maitri (loving-kindness); suffering; tonglen; slogans.
This book on CD is not read by Chodron, btw.
This book on CD is not read by Chodron, btw.
This is a practical guide to Buddhist thinking and meditation practice in the straightforward prose of a Westerner. It's great stuff. Chodron makes the point that we must learn to be kind to ourselves--not self-deprecating but self-accepting. The point reminds me of why I think most Christian churches--especially the United Methodist tradition I grew up with--is more a disease than a spiritual path.
I've read this book several times-I alternate between it and From Fear To Fearlessness, and Start Where You Are. I read a couple of pages every night before bed. I find Pema Chodron's voice incredibly reasonable in an unreasonable world. This book is my favorite because it has over 100 short lessons, and I learn something new every time I read them.
This book is composed of 108 chapters, each which is two pages or less. It is a wonderful book when you want something quick and easy to pick up/put down. Although you will find yourself hesitating to put it down. Full of Chondron's poetic teachings and nicely organized this is an inspiring book which challenges us to fulfill our potential. If you like any of Chondron's previous books you will like this one.
This is my first book by Chodron and I found it to be a great read. I enjoyed many of the lessons and will take all of them to heart as I continue my spiritual journey.
However, the books was a little random, making it difficult to move from one lesson to the next. But Chodron's writing is good enough to help overlook that pitfall.
However, the books was a little random, making it difficult to move from one lesson to the next. But Chodron's writing is good enough to help overlook that pitfall.
Wonderful synthesis of Pema Chodron's teachings ~ 108 mini-chapters. Like all of her work, it is deceptively simple but really packs a wallop. Her books should be savored and this one is no exception. Great book for young parents and others who are on a spiritual journey but intensely busy in their lives at this point.
This is a beautiful beautiful book. Crucial wisdom for all humanity, especially us Westerners who white knuckle our way through life, always trying to maintain control and grappling with our need/desire to know what lies around the next corner.....in this way we create our own suffering. This is absolutely a must-read.
The goal isn't really to become comfortable with uncertainty but rather to embrace the fear . . . the discomfort and relax in the moment of "uncomfortableness". As the summer of reflect comes to an end my goal is to embrace the fear and discomfort-- to relax in the moment. I'm on the path each moment each day. I'm me again.
A wonderful bedside book. It's not necessarily an eye opener, but it is a wonderful way to remind yourself of some of Pema's thoughts and lessons. Each is just a page or two. Easy to read and soul stirring.
Thank you for yet another reminder on living a life in balance.
www.simple-truth.com
Thank you for yet another reminder on living a life in balance.
www.simple-truth.com
I didn't follow all of this, but didn't expect to either. This is a book of excerpts from Chodron's other works and each is meant to be read alone. I may borrow this book again after I've read some more in depth materials. Seems like it's a handy reference to have around.
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Ani Pema Chödrön (Deirdre Blomfield-Brown) is an American Buddhist nun in the Tibetan tradition, closely associated with the Kagyu school and the Shambhala lineage.
She attended Miss Porter's School in Connecticut and graduated from the University of California at Berkeley. She taught as an elementary school teacher for many years in both New Mexico and California. Pema has two children and three g...more
More about Pema Chödrön...
She attended Miss Porter's School in Connecticut and graduated from the University of California at Berkeley. She taught as an elementary school teacher for many years in both New Mexico and California. Pema has two children and three g...more
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“There was once a lady who was arrogant and proud. Determined to attain enlightenment, she asked all the authorities how to go about it. She was told, "Well, if you climb to the top of this very high mountain, you'll find a cave there. Sitting inside that cave is a wise old woman. She will tell you." Having endured great hardships, the lady finally found this cave. Sure enough, sitting there was a gentle spiritual-looking old woman in white clothing, who smiled beatifically. Overcome with awe and respect, the lady prostrated at the feet of this woman and said, "I want to attain enlightenment. Show me how." This wise woman looked at her and asked sweetly, "Are you sure you want to attain enlightenment?" And the woman said, "Of course I'm sure." Whereupon the smiling woman turned into a demon, stood up brandishing a great big stick, and started chasing her, saying, "Now! Now! Now!" For the rest of her life, that lady could never get away from the demon who was always saying, Now! Now--that's the key. Mindfulness trains us to be awake and alive, fully curious, about now.”
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13 people liked it
“Nothing ever goes away until it has taught us what we need to know.”
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13 people liked it
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