Getting Unstuck

What a refreshing change from all the kitschy, marketing-driven New Age entrepreneurs!

Pema Chodron is a teacher from the Tibetan tradition who takes core Buddhist teachings and meditation techniques and applies them to our concrete, everyday life---without the thick layer of esoteric terminology and sleep-inducing academic presentation that all too many of her contemporaries have (even within the supposedly "teaching beyond words" Zen tradition) and without the 9-step pie-in-the-sky kitsch of the pop psychologists. Only Charlotte Joko Beck ("Everyday Zen") comes close.

Like the Dalai Lama's writing, there is a palpable and deep humility, gentleness, gratitude and quiet joy with which all of her words and laughter are imbued. She has an amazing knack for keeping it real: lots of candid personal anecdotes, pokes fun at herself from time to time, never puts herself on some lofty pedestal. It really felt like listening to a good friend chatting about herself, simply being herself: as with most true "masters," one is effortlessly taken by her simplicity, spareness, and an utter lack of pretension or vanity.

I have long admired her writing, but her voice adds an extra dimension of beauty and power, deeply calming in and of itself.
This was the first audio book I have ever listened to, and it will certainly not be the last.

I was initially put off when I received this, because I thought I'd ordered a book. But once I put the CD's in and heard Pema Chodron's compassionate voice I realized this was going to be great. Listening to these CD's of her lectures to meditation students, one gets a sense of her compassion for herself and others, her sense of humor, her humble view of herself (considered a master by many), and her honesty about how difficult doing the simplest meditation techniques can be for her even now after decades of devotion to meditating. Ultimately these CD's are about sitting as comfortably and as still as possible, focussing on our breathing and then seeing what comes into our minds- be it an impulse to scratch an itch, or an angry thought about some work your having done on your house or anything- and with as much compassion as possible, to label this "thinking", and then let it go and move on to the next inevitable thought. This practice takes time and discipline, but is truly effective when applied with honest intent.

This CD set is a boon for those of us who need a helping hand on the spiritual path. Pema has walked the walk so well and provides so many great insights. Her discussion of "shenpa" is a great tool for dealing with emotional baggage.

We originally borrowed this CD set and listened to it on a long car ride, but upon our return I immediately ordered two copies of our own -- one for ourselves because it's clearly one we'll want to listen to over and over . . . and another because we were clearly going to be talking about it and want to loan it to people. Terrific. Clear, relaxed, cogent, humorous instruction from a wonderful human being about getting free of "sticky" thoughts.

i gave this as a gift to a friend, and he hasn't stopped thanking me for it. he tells me every day what a great gift it was and how much it has helped him deal with everyday life.