Embrace Uncertainty and Change with a Life of Beauty and Joy

Cait Wood: Well written, full of wisdom, ,a great addition to any spiritual book collection.

United Kingdom on Aug 19, 2023

Janet Fouts: I love all of Pema Chodron's books so much and this one really dove deep into areas I wanted to learn more about. Having a deeper understanding of the teachings is so helpful in creating my own strategy for self-care and love for the world.

United States on Jun 27, 2023

W. Handy: If you know Chödrön’s work, you already know of her excellence. If you don’t - do yourself a favor and start reading her. I’m not sure this is the best book for a beginner; she delves into some deep waters. Deep, but not treacherous, so start here if you want. Essentially, she covers practices relating to the Hinayana, Mahayana, and Vajrayana Buddhist traditions. That’s a pretty steep curve for one short book. Certainly if you want to look into the Vajrayana, get some expert guidance. Heed her teaching that the first two steps cannot be skipped or rushed. As always, she is clear, humane, often funny, and deeply kind. The book is a jewel.

United States on May 26, 2023

Mary Beth Ingram: Deeply changed by the reading of this book. Grateful for the wisdom brought by Pema Chodron and challenged to grow into it.

United States on Apr 01, 2023

Karmen Knezevic: This book was a relaxing read. Reaching the final state, embracing pain while staying sane, is not my strongest characteristic; however I stay open and keep learning and reading. Maybe one day all puzzles will fit together. I would recommend this book as part of reader's spiritual journey; it is not the book that will help you reach epiphany but it will give you hope and strength to keep reading and discovering.

Canada on Jan 06, 2022

AkashAkash: Oh wow.... It's very nice... Lemme quote my fav. Sentence from this book : Emotions stay on and on when we fuel them with words...

India on Jul 30, 2021

Francesca Gosden: I just finished a 10 day silent retreat. This book is utterly phenomenal. Every page to be savoured. This fabulous woman brought me to Buddhism and keeps me here too. I left this book out for my fellow retreatants when I had finished it and it was constantly in some ones hands throughout the retreat. They spoke of the wisdom contained in the pages and how helpful to their practice.. at the end of the retreat of course when we could talk again.

So much metta to you Pema- sister in the dharma. Thank you

United Kingdom on Aug 07, 2017

Sue: I have a number of Pema Chodron books, and this is one of the best. There is something about the simplicity of the message--delivered in few words, but with maximum impact. Some call it a quick read; I disagree. Each sentence is powerful, each chapter to be read and re-read. I have passed this book on to my husband, and we have both read it several times. I have also come back here to buy more copies for friends, family, and co-workers. We all go through difficult and confusing times, and we often resist change as "bad." Pema's reassuring voice lets us know that we are not alone; that we all suffer at one time or another because we try to grasp at permanency, and often wish that things were different from how they currently are. The solution, both simple and difficult, is to live in the present moment, without pre-conceptions, and to let go of our story line about what is "good" or "bad" for us at any given moment. So I read, and re-read, and slowly--the message sinks in. The chapter on compassion is one of the most powerful things I have ever read. I think I have given away 10 copies of this book already.

United States on Apr 20, 2017

Jisho: Pema Chödrön introduces this section by describing the first of the Three Commitments, traditionally called the Pratimoksha Vow, the foundation for personal liberation. “This is a commitment to doing our best to not cause harm with our actions or words or thoughts, a commitment to being good to each other. It provides a structure within which we learn to work with our thoughts and emotions, and to refrain from speaking or acting out of confusion.” She edifies the reader to understand the purpose of the precepts as a means to get at something deeper, known as outer renunciation. She elaborates by describing fixed identity or “ego clinging” as the cause of our suffering, providing practices to cultivate mindfulness, paying attention to all details of your life.

“The first commitment is a vow to know your triggers, a vow that whatever it takes, you’ll compassionately acknowledge when you’re hooked by the eight worldly concerns-or indeed, hooked by anything.” She completes the first section by emphasizing that awakening is not a process of building ourselves up, rather it’s a process of letting go.

Part Two: The Second Commitment: Committing to Take...

United States on Jun 24, 2014

Mr. L-francois Pilard: Usually I embrace the book I've chosen with little criticism or pause its reading but end up finishing it even if it's after resuming its reading years after. This was not the case for this practical book, which I've read electronically. Its cover is enticing. I think I was able to find in this text things I had discovered in the author's other books I had read either in English or French. Simple breathing exercises, guidelines for meditation which do help me at the start of each work day. Moreover I polish, brush up, keep my English up with this kind of reading. I place at the same level as books by Gabriel Cousens, Eileen Caddy, the Dalai Lama, not to mention Henri Brunel, Angelus Silesius. I know I may be told I am too much into new age reading, nevertheless there are times in my life when I do not read but act, when I do not speak but am quiet.

France on Apr 02, 2013