A portion of proceeds goes to donating Pema's books to underserved individuals and the organizations that help them. Learn more about the Pema Chödrön's Foundation's Book Initative.
Comfortable with Uncertainty:
108 Teachings on Cultivating Fearlessness and Compassion
By Pema Chödrön
| Hardcover $18.95 | Paperback $14.95 | |
| ISBN1590306260 | ISBN1590300785 | |
| Hardcover / Shambhala Library / 240 pages | Paperback / Shambhala Publications / 240 pages 5 x 7-1/4 | |
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 Uncertainty does not assume prior knowledge of Buddhist thought or practice, making it a perfect introduction to Pema's teachings on loving-kindness, meditation, mindfulness, "nowness," letting go, and working with fear and other painful emotions. Through the course of this book, readers will learn practical methods for heightening awareness and overcoming habitual patterns that block compassion.
Reviews of Comfortable with Uncertainty
"Gently, conversationally, and with humor, Comfortable with Uncertainty offers strategies for seeing and thinking differently. For many people the approach is nothing less than transformational." – Boston Globe
"Chödrön's radical words of wisdom unlock doors and shine warm light into the darkness of human cynicism and despair." – Utne Reader
"Chödrön's voice is gently humorous, always kind, and seemingly infinitely wise." – L.A. Times
Practicing Peace in Times of War
By Pema Chödrön
| Hardcover $12.95 | Paperback $7.95 | |
| ISBN1590306260 | ISBN1590300785 | |
| Hardcover / Shambhala Library / 240 pages | Paperback / Shambhala Publications / 240 pages 5 x 7-1/4 | |
With war and violence flaring all over the world, many of us are left feeling vulnerable and utterly helpless. In this book, Pema draws on Buddhist teachings to explore the origins of aggression, hatred, and war, explaining that they lie nowhere but within our own hearts and minds. She goes on to explain that the way in which we as individuals respond to challenges in our everyday lives can either perpetuate a culture of violence or create a new culture of compassion. "War and peace begin in the hearts of individuals," declares Pema at the opening of this inspiring and accessible book. She goes on to offer practical techniques any of us can use to work for peace in our own lives, at the level of our habits of thought and action. It's never too late, she tells us, to look within and discover a new way of living and transform not only our personal lives, but our whole world.
Always Maintain a Joyful Mind – Book and CD
By Pema Chödrön
| Hardcover with CD $16.00 |
| ISBN-1590304608 |
| Shambhala Publications Translated by Nalanda Translation Group July, 2007 / 144 pages |
For centuries Tibetan Buddhists have relied on a collection of fifty-nine pith teachings (called lojong in Tibetan) to help them develop wisdom and compassion amid the challenges of daily living. In this book Pema introduces these transformative teachings and offers guidance on how to make them part of our everyday lives.
The lojong teachings include: "Always maintain only a joyful mind," "Don't be swayed by external circumstances," "Don't be so predictable," and "Be grateful to everyone." Each slogan is followed by Pema's accessible and succinct commentary on how to understand and apply it.
This book also features a forty-five-minute audio program entitled "Opening the Heart," in which Pema offers in-depth instruction on tonglen meditation, a powerful practice that anyone can undertake to awaken compassion for oneself and others.
Awakening Loving-Kindness
By Pema Chödrön
| Paperback $6.95 |
| ISBN-1570622590 |
| Shambhala Pocket Classics 208 pages |
This Shambhala Pocket Classic is an abridged version of The Wisdom of No Escape. Based on talks given during a one-month meditation retreat at Gampo Abbey, this book contains teachings that were intended to inspire and encourage practitioners to remain wholeheartedly awake to everything that occurs and to use the abundant material of daily life as their primary teacher and guide. The message for the retreat participants – and for the reader as well – as to be with oneself without embarrassment or harshness. This is instruction on how to love oneself and one's world.
Reviews of Awakening Loving-Kindness
"These teachings are simple, earthy, and alive. Pema's deep experience and her fresh way of looking at things are like mountain water-clear and refreshing, as good Dharma should be." – Jack Kornfield, co-author of Seeking the Heart of Wisdom
No Time to Lose: A Timely Guide to the Way of the Bodhisattva
By Pema Chödrön
| Paperback $16.95 |
| ISBN - 1590304241 |
| Shambhala Publications / 408 pages / August, 2007 |
Over the years, Pema's books have offered readers an exciting new way of living: developing fearlessness, generosity, and compassion in all aspects of their lives. In No Time to Lose, Pema invites readers to venture further along the path of the "bodhisattva warrior," explaining in depth how we can awaken the softness of our hearts and develop true confidence amid the challenges of daily living. Pema reveals the traditional Buddhist teachings that guide her own life: those of The Way of the Bodhisattva (Bodhicharyavatara), a text written by the eighth-century sage Shantideva. This treasured Buddhist work is remarkably relevant for our times, describing the steps we can take to cultivate courage, caring, and joy-the keys to healing ourselves and our troubled world. Pema offers us a highly practical and engaging commentary on this essential text, explaining how its profound teachings can be applied to our daily lives.
Reviews of No Time to Lose
"Chödrön's commentary on Shantideva's text is wise yet humble, and always encouraging." – Yoga Journal
"No Time to Lose represents the fruition of Chödrön's years of practice and study: a traditional commentary in which passages from The Way of the Bodhisattva are interspersed with her ever-approachable and pithy instructions for daily life." – Parabola "Chödrön provides consistently clear expositions of Shantideva's sometimes convoluted verses and lines of argument, keeping her eye firmly on the question of how his discussion is relevant to the lives of ordinary people living in modern societies. A superlative presentation of the text." – Buddhadharma
"In this ambitious and profound work, Chödrön hits high stride, creating a wide-ranging, accessible, and soul-stirring commentary on the classic Buddhist text The Way of the Bodhisattva." – Spirituality and Health
"Chödrön is a clear teacher, explaining key terms and making things simple and characteristically plainspoken. She is also the right kind of motivator, telling readers immediately what's in it for them: this book can inspire those who want to make the world a better place." – Publishers Weekly
"Pema Chödrön's writings have been helpful to countless numbers of people trying to find some ground for their being in this chaotic world." – Bill Moyers
Smile at Fear: Awakening the True Heart of Bravery
By Chögyam Trungpa, Forward by Pema Chödrön, Edited by Carolyn Rose Gimian
| Softcover $15.95 |
| ISBN - 1590308859 |
| Shambhala Publications 160 Pages October, 2010 |
Many of us, without even realizing it, are dominated by fear. We might be aware of some of our fears – perhaps we are afraid of public speaking, of financial hardship, or of losing a loved one. Compiled from previous teachings, Chögyam Trungpa shows us that most of us suffer from a far more pervasive fearfulness: fear of ourselves. We feel ashamed and embarrassed to look at our feelings or acknowledge our styles of thinking and acting; we don't want to face the reality of our moment-to-moment experience. It is this fear that keeps us trapped in cycles of suffering, despair, and distress.
Chögyam Trungpa offers us a vision of moving beyond fear to discover the innate bravery, trust, and delight in life that lies at the core of our being. Drawing on the Shambhala Buddhist teachings, he explains how we can each become a spiritual warrior: a person who faces each moment of life with openness and fearlessness. "The ultimate definition of bravery is not being afraid of who you are," writes Chögyam Trungpa. In this book he offers the insights and strategies to claim victory over fear.
Reviews of Smile at Fear
"Powerful dharma encouragement to awaken our own fearless and wise heart-from one of the most remarkable and brilliant teachers of modern times." – Jack Kornfield
"The teachings presented in this book are transformational-and especially relevant today, when so many of us are facing uncertainty and anxiety. Chögyam Trungpa shows us how to uncover our innate strength, confidence, and joy under any circumstances. I strongly recommend this book to all those seeking awakening and freedom." – Pema Chödrön
"There is no one better than Chögyam Trungpa to show us how to be fearless. He overcame great difficulties while remaining true to his principles-bravery, compassion, and gentleness. These are the qualities of a Shambhala warrior, which shine through brilliantly in this book." – Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche
"Throughout [this publication] it is stated many times that the road to compassionate enlightenment and change is sitting meditation. These gentle reminders are always welcome because it is so easy to go to sleep and forget what is useful." – The Bloomsbury Review
Start Where You Are: A Guide to Compassionate Living
By Pema Chödrön
| Hardcover $18.95 | Paperback $14.95 | |
| ISBN-1590301420 | ISBN-1570628394 | |
| Shambhala Library / 240 pages | Shambhala Classics 176 pages | |
Start Where You Are is an indispensable handbook for cultivating fearlessness and awakening a compassionate heart. With insight and humor, Pema presents down-to-earth guidance on how we can "start where we are" – embracing rather than denying the painful aspects of our lives. Pema frames her teachings on compassion around fifty-nine traditional Tibetan Buddhist maxims, or slogans, such as: "Always apply only a joyful state of mind," "Don't seek others' pain as the limbs of your own happiness," and "Always meditate on whatever provokes resentment." Working with these slogans and through the practice of meditation, Start Where You Are shows how we can all develop the courage to work with our inner pain and discover joy, well-being, and confidence.
Reviews of Start Where You Are
"Pragmatic and to the point, Pema Chödrön cuts to the very heart of practice, right to the tender pink spot we want to cover over and keep safe. In the context of being kind to ourselves, Start Where You Are shows how our greatest asset is our own vulnerability that we so desperately protect. Pema Chödrön guides us to the understanding that, rather than hiding from or resisting the pain of our existence, we can learn to relax with the situation just as it is." – Tantra magazine
"Pema Chödrön uses modern Western idiom and lyrical language to bring to life ancient Buddhist Wisdom. She weaves a poetic tapestry which invites the reader onto a path of compassionate living which is both new and familiar." – Loch Kelly, M. Div., C.S.W.
Taking the Leap: Freeing Ourselves from Old Habits and Fears
By Pema Chödrön
| Softcover $14.95 |
| ISBN-1590306341 |
| Shambhala Publications / 128 pages |
In this book Pema shows us how to break free of destructive patterns in our lives and experience a new sense of freedom and happiness. Drawing on the Buddhist concept of shenpa, she helps us to see how certain habits of mind tend to "hook" us and get us stuck in states of anger, blame, self-hatred, and addiction. The good news is that once we start to see these patterns, we can begin to change our lives for the better. The key is learning a new way of facing the inevitable difficulties and insecurities of our daily lives: we must learn how to stay present and open our hearts. "This path entails uncovering three basic human qualities," explains Pema. "These qualities have always been with us but perhaps have gotten buried and almost forgotten. They are natural intelligence, natural warmth, and natural openness. Everyone, everywhere, all over the globe, has these qualities and can call on them to help themselves and others." This book gives us the insights and practices we can immediately put to use in our lives to awaken these essential qualities. In her friendly and encouraging style, Pema helps us to take a bold leap toward a new way of living-one that will bring about positive transformation for ourselves and for our troubled world.
Reviews of Taking the Leap
"This gently encouraging book by popular teacher Chödrön applies Buddhist wisdom to the problems of deeply ingrained reactions. Among her strengths are compassion for the difficulty of human existence and her willingness to acknowledge her own failings. This short guide provides valuable tools for change in uncertain times." – Publishers Weekly "Straightforward and personal, Taking the Leap is a fine addition to Chödrön's work." – BellaOnline.com
"You don't have to be a Buddhist to benefit from reading Chödrön's book, you just have to be willing to approach new ideas with an open mind." – The Lindsay Post (Canada)
"Taking the Leap seems to speak directly to the angst we are currently facing and she is spot on with her teachings. Chödrön is effective not because she coddles the reader, but because we get the sense that she understands exactly what this pain feels like." – LA Yoga
The Places That Scare You:
A Guide to Fearlessness in Difficult Times
By Pema Chödrön
| Hardcover $18.95 | Paperback $14.00 | |
| ISBN-1590302656 | ISBN-1590304497 | |
| Shambhala Library 208 pages | Shambhala Classics 160 pages | |
We always have a choice, Pema teaches: We can let the circumstances of our lives harden us and make us increasingly resentful and afraid, or we can let them soften us and make us kinder. Here Pema provides the tools to deal with the problems and difficulties that life throws our way. This wisdom is always available to us, she teaches, but we usually block it with habitual patterns rooted in fear. Beyond that fear lies a state of openheartedness and tenderness. This book teaches us how to awaken our basic goodness and connect with others, to accept ourselves and others complete with faults and imperfections, and to stay in the present moment by seeing through the strategies of ego that cause us to resist life as it is.
Reviews of The Places That Scare You
"Chödrön has once again proven herself to be one of the very best working in this field." – Library Journal
"Chödrön demonstrates how effective the Buddhist point of view can be in bringing order into disordered lives." – Publishers Weekly
"A lively and accessible take on ancient techniques for transforming terror and pain into joy and compassion." – O: The Oprah Magazine
The Pocket Pema Chödrön
By Pema Chödrön
| Paperback $7.95 |
| ISBN-1590306511 |
| Shambhala Pocket Classics December, 2008 / 208 pages |
This is a treasury of 108 short selections from the best-selling books of Pema. Designed for on-the-go inspiration, this collection offers teachings on:
- becoming fearless
- breaking free of destructive patterns
- developing patience, kindness, and joy amid our everyday struggles
- unlocking our natural warmth, intelligence, and goodness
The Wisdom of No Escape And the Path of Loving-Kindness
| Hardcover $18.95 |
| ISBN-1590307933 |
| Shambhala Library / 176 pages / March, 2010 |
| Paperback $14.00 |
| ISBN-1570628726 |
| 120 pages September, 2010 |
Pema teaches that by embracing all the happiness and suffering, all the intelligence and confusion (that are natural parts of our existence), that it is possible to say yes to life and all it's manifestations. Doing so opens a wellspring of courage and love within our hearts. In her first book, Pema presents traditional Buddhist wisdom that anyone can relate to.
Reviews of The Wisdom of No Escape
"The Wisdom of No Escape offers down-to-earth guidance in cultivating basic sanity and befriending ourselves in the venerable tradition of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche." – Yoga Journal
"Here's a woman who embodies her message. She speaks from genuine connection to the source." – Helen Palmer, author of The Enneagram
When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times
By Pema Chödrön
| Hardcover $18.95 |
| ISBN-1570629692 |
| Shambhala Library / 208 page / September, 2002 |
| Paperback $14.00 |
| ISBN-1590302265 |
| Shambhala Classics 160 pages September, 2000 |
There is a fundamental opportunity for happiness right within our reach, yet we usually miss it – ironically while we are caught up in attempts to escape pain and suffering. Drawn from traditional Buddhist wisdom, Pema's radical and compassionate advice for what to do when things fall apart in our lives goes against the grain of our usual habits and expectations. There is only one approach to suffering that is of lasting benefit, Pema teaches, and that approach involves moving toward painful situations with friendliness and curiosity, relaxing into the essential groundlessness of our entire situation. It is there, in the midst of chaos, that we can discover the truth and love that are indestructible.
Reviews of When Things Fall Apart
The Tibetan Buddhist equivalent of Harold Kushner's When Bad Things Happen to Good People. . . Chödrön demonstrates how effective the Buddhist point of view can be in bringing order into disordered lives." – Publishers Weekly
"This is a book that could serve you for a lifetime." – Natural Health Magazine "As one of Pema Chödrön's grateful students, I have been learning the most pressing and necessary lesson of all: how to keep opening wider my own heart." – Alice Walker
