When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times (Shambhala Classics) - Softcover

Chodron, Pema

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1570623449 ISBN 13: 9781570623448

Publisher: Shambhala, 2000

The beautiful practicality of her teaching has made Pema Chödrön one of the most beloved of contemporary American spiritual authors among Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike. A collection of talks she gave between 1987 and 1994, the book is a treasury of wisdom for going on living when we are overcome by pain and difficulties. Chödrön discusses:
   ·  Using painful emotions to cultivate wisdom, compassion, and courage
   ·  Communicating so as to encourage others to open up rather than shut down
   ·  Practices for reversing habitual patterns
   ·  Methods for working with chaotic situations
   ·  Ways for creating effective social action

Review:

Much like Zen, Pema Chodron's interpretation of Tibetan Buddhism takes the form of a nontheistic spiritualism. In When Things Fall Apart this head of a Tibetan monastery in Canada outlines some relevant and deceptively profound terms of Tibetan Buddhism that are germane to modern issues. The key to all of these terms is accepting that in the final analysis, life is groundless. By letting go, we free ourselves to face fear and obstacles and offer ourselves unflinchingly to others. The graceful, conversational tone of Chodron's writing gives the impression of sitting on a pillow across from her, listening to her everyday examples of Buddhist wisdom.

Book Description:

Pema Chodron offers her core teachings on how to use our darkest moments to illuminate the path to freedom, by embracing the experiences that typically make us freeze, suppress, or act out our feelings