The Three Commitments: Walking the Path of Liberation

by Pema Chödrön

Tibetan Buddhism describes three gates that everyone must pass through on the road to spiritual liberation. With The Three Commitments , Pema Chödrön brings her unique blend of insight and gentle instruction to guide practitioners through each of these thresholds as they seek the source of true happiness.

As Pema explains, suffering arises when we resist the law of impermanence―the fact that everything we know, including ourselves, will one day die. Here she provides teachings and practices for fully embracing life’s ephemeral nature, using these three traditional monastic vows, or commitments.

The Pratimoksha vows―how we can find personal liberation through the inner work of letting go
• The Bodhisattva vows―the way of genuine and compassionate service to others
• The Tantric vows―how to accept impermanence with true equanimity and touch the underlying stillness from which all worldly forms arise
In the past, initiates took their vows when entering the secluded world of the monastery. Today, laypeople are also embracing these commitments as a way to deepen their practice while fully participating in everyday life.

Through her practical instruction and accessible interpretation of ancient wisdom, Pema Chödrön helps listeners discover how each of these sacred vows is not a burden or restriction, but a guiding beacon on the path to liberation.

Genres: Buddhism, Nonfiction, Audiobook, Meditation, Religion, Spirituality

6 pages, Audio CD

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

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 grandchildren.

While in her mid-thirties, she traveled to the French Alps and encountered Lama Chime Rinpoche, with whom she studied for several years. She became a novice nun in 1974 while studying with Lama Chime in London. His Holiness the Sixteenth Karmapa came to England at that time, and Ani Pema received her ordination from him.

Ani Pema first met her root guru, Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, in 1972. Lama Chime encouraged her to work with Trungpa, and it was with him that she ultimately made her most profound connection, studying with him from 1974 until his death in 1987. At the request of the Sixteenth Karmapa, she received the full bikshuni ordination in the Chinese lineage of Buddhism in 1981 in Hong Kong.

Ani Pema served as the director of the Karma Dzong, in Boulder, CO, until moving in 1984 to rural Cape Breton, Nova Scotia to be the director of Gampo Abbey. Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche gave her explicit instructions on establishing this monastery for western monks and nuns.

Ani Pema currently teaches in the United States and Canada and plans for an increased amount of time in solitary retreat under the guidance of Venerable Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche.

Reviews

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pema Chodron is the best. I could listen to her forever.

She explains the three vows (or commitments) in this CD.

Right now I am focused on the Pratimoksha Vow which is a commitment to noticing when you are trying to escape difficult emotions and choosing not to escape. Some typical escape routes are:

overeating, harsh speech, checking email, reading, drinking, watching TV, etc.

Instead, you do the process of simmering which means sitting with your strong emotion and letting go of the storyline. This is one way to get to nirvana or bliss.

Easier said than done! I was not expecting to get to nirvana or bliss. I just wanted to be more aware. I did try it this week and found it very helpful. I loved being more aware and observing my behavior and emotions. Pema says that it is very difficult to keep an emotion from continuing for more than a minute and a half without a storyline.

I found that true, but I noticed it did not go away completely. It alternated with a variety of feelings. It was a constant moving symphony of emotions.

Also, the Boddhisatva Vow includes not putting yourself down as well as keeping your heart and mind open at all times. I am particularly interested right now in the part where you don't put yourself down which starts with being aware of when you are doing it and loving yourself instead regardless of what happens. I also added a twist of noticing what lesson I learned so I won't do it again.

[Ekta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heard it 2x on Audible. I love this book especially because it is simple. All of Ani's teachings are. That's how the path ought to be. Simple and usable by every person. My initiation on the path has been just like that. My teacher says that one doesn't need to read scripture or books or spend years studying...as long as one walks the walk, the awakening will happen. This book is about walking that path seriously and playfully brings forth the issues faced by humans in society currently.

[Meghan Burke · Rating 4 out of 5]

I believe this is only available as an audiobook. Listening to Pema is always a pleasure, as is learning from her. 4/5 only because by now it’s a little dated, some audio quality is tricky, and I guess because it contains some guided practices that can feel a bit disjointed if you aren’t in a position to practice while they occur. Still so wonderful.

[Ashlee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love listening to Pema Chodron’s teachings, and the content of this talk was great. My problem was the audio quality was poor, and there were long sections of silence while the audience was meditating. Kind of hard to get through as an audiobook.

[Debbirder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved all the sessions but especially the last one about flexibility. Finding space and gentleness within the chaos, joy and suffering. Seeing the essential buddha nature in everyone.

[Tina Panik · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid introduction to the teachings, with actual practice included.

[Jeremy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Big Ideas:

+ There is a fundamental ambiguity (uncertainty, anxiety, groundlessness) of being human. We can’t know why we’re here or what the meaning of life is
- Do we relax into ever-changing circumstances or do we resist? One leads to awakening; the other leads to suffering
- The fundamental nature of reality is that there is nothing to hold onto. We suffer because we try to hold on, usually to a fixed idea of ourselves (ego clinging)
- The upside of impermanence is that this exact moment will never happen again, so it is precious and to be enjoyed

+ 3 commitments (vows) we can make in dealing with this fundamental ambiguity
1. Pratimoksha: vow of renunciation, personal liberation
- Understand your escape routes and don’t go down them
- Slow down, don’t speak or act out of confusion
2. Bodhisattva: benefit others
- Dedicate your life to keeping your heart and mind open to every situation, so as to benefit others by your capacity to remain open
- Breathe in the pain of others and breathe out peace
3. Samaya: cultivate flexibility
- Pose questions that don’t have any answers: Who am I? What am I?
- There is no fixed self, it is a “flowing current”
- Important qualities of flexibility: wakefulness, fearlessness, gentleness



Potent Quotables:

The fundamental ambiguity, if resisted, gives birth to ego clinging or fixed identity; the fundamental ambiguity, if followed and rejoiced in or embraced, is called Buddha nature or basic goodness or true nature.

There is no intrinsic security blanket… [Aspire to] let the whole thing fall apart more and more and feel it as freedom rather than as terrifying.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pema Chodron always brings a clear, lighthearted, yet profound perspective to Tibetan Buddhism. In this mini-retreat, she continues with the stories and perspectives people of all faiths, including Christian (my faith) can take into our own practices.

The teachings tend to be fairly purist and advanced for a beginner, so I would recommend starting small. In this retreat, she brings up the "One and a half minutes" way of getting started. This is both significant and helpful as even those who have been practicing a while, can benefit from just touching a time of meditation when it is most needed, and perhaps a full withdrawal from a situation is not possible. Start small, and if you end up focusing for 2-3 minutes, or more, you're going down a helpful path.

One challenging thing for me is a significant element of dualism - good and bad, right and wrong - in tension. It has value, to be sure, though I find more value personally in giving strict dualism a lot of grace and space.

A nice, more in depth than some, retreat for those starting, but more so for those who have familiarity with Buddhist practice or meditation.

[Danny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really solid listen. I saw one of Pema Chodron’s books on a list of recommended spiritual/buddhist readings and this was the only title by her available at the library (audiobook) so I decided to check it out. It’s not really a book, but a series of live dharma talks from a retreat. I liked most of the topics and learned quite a bit. She’s a very clear speaker who grounds everything in daily life as opposed to metaphor. There are plenty of dharma talks available for free from many teachers all over the internet and in podcast form these days, but they can be hit or miss. I liked the cohesiveness of these 8 hours of talks since they were all part of a single retreat. She hits on a few key themes repeatedly, which is helpful. Recommended for those already familiar with some Buddhist topics who are looking to go deeper!

[Tom Weissmuller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not too deep, this is a simple presentation and explanation of practice. It contains some references to personalities within the school, playful, but might suggest exclusivity to some. This is an audio lecture, and you are invited to participate in exercises. Much high pitched laughter, suggesting women only at this retreat.

[minz · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was an audio recording of a retreat. Maybe I was not far enough along in my practice to appreciate it. It seemed to explain, but not teach, would be a good way for me to describe why I gave it this rating.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a book that is read aloud. It is a recording of the talks she gives at a retreat.

She walks through different exercises, in addition to easy to understand explanations of the three commitments or vows.

[Allie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stop what you're doing and listen carefully to this life-chaninging book.

[Reo Moss · Rating 5 out of 5]

She helps me through.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I find reading these books makes me more honest with myself and helps me to catch myself when I need to.

[Dkilwein · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely deserves a reread to revisit her teachings.i can relate to her teachings, and bogus is her sense of humor!

[John Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice book on 3 ways to liberate your spirit . Letting go of the past, compassion, and accept impedance and live in the now

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pema Chodron is a master teacher and brings the mystic journey to her audience in very understandable terms.

[LemontreeLime · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clever wise affectionately sneaky Pema Chodron regales her listeners with yet another 1-2 dharma sucker punch, and i mean that in the best way possible. Shes like your grandmother, but she's got one of those kyosaku sticks behind her back, ready to wake you up if she thinks you need the encouragement. (And of course this is just a metaphor for the impact of her words and teaching.) Anyhow, also like your grandmother, she makes you wish you were better, and gives you the encouragement to not only make the attempt - but to be comfortable with failing and trying and failing and trying again and again. Now if that isn't a gift, what is?

[Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

It occurred to me that I needed a woman teacher to guide my spiritual learning, a representative of the mother if you will. I may have found my guru. Pema Chodron teaches in a present, calm, matter-of-fact way that I could better hear and absorb than from the males I've been listening to. Thank you, goddess.

[MaryJohanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This seems a more advanced series of talks to students at Gompo Abby on the 3 commitments -how to take them and how to repair them.

[Margarete · Rating 5 out of 5]

she's the best

[Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

She helps me through.