This collection of talks by Pema Chodron are on the topic of "shenpa," an idea roughly translated as "hooks" or "attachment." When we get trapped in our head instead of being present, it's this shenpa we're experiencing. Shenpa is not the thoughts we have or the emotions we feel, but the sticky part that keeps us from getting back to the present moment. When we realize that something is hooking us, we can take an attitude of curiosity and joy at discovering the shenpa and get back to the present.

I liked this audio collection a lot, and I'd recommend it for anyone interested in Buddhism, meditation, and spiritual growth. Pema Chodron is a delightful speaker, who displays and advocates curiosity, compassion, and humor for everyone (including ourselves). Her explanations of techniques, terms, and reasons for both are helpful and accessible. She explains everything a few different ways, so even if something doesn't make sense at first, it will eventually click.

All of my previous meditation experience had been in silence, with closed eyes, and generally in connection with some sort of yoga practice. This audio collection was useful for helping me realize that that isn't how meditation has to be, and in fact, there are other ways that work better for some people. For instance, being present with sound (as oppose to breath) is much more effect for me. I'm sensitive to sound, and half oblivious to inner-physical sensation.

I appreciated Pema Chodron's explanation of how and why to touch thoughts, emotions, and sensations without attachment. The whole idea of meditating to lessen shenpa's spiral effect, instead of meditating to quiet the mind and dull pain, was very helpful. We have noisy minds, but it is okay and possible to think, feel, touch while being present in the moment and not trapped in some sort of potentially harmful dream space.

Pema Chodron is pretty neat. She is an American Buddhist nun who speaks internationally and donates money from her events to a variety of worth-while organizations. You can learn more about her at her website, here: http://pemachodron.org/