Rating: 
Summary: OPEN YOUR HEART AND YOU RELEASE SUFFERING!
Review: Pema Chodron, a Tibetan Buddhis nun, is the one inspirational person you would choose to have with you when your world falls apart. Being a follower of Buddhist Philosophies for many years, I have found inner peace, strength, love and fulfillment through my beliefs. Each one of us must find "enlightenment" from whatever source we alone believe in, but for me, personally, Buddhism has been the answer. As the author reminds us, "Loving kindness comes from opening ourselves to vulnerability."Meditation, mindfulness and practices such as "tonglen" (taking in the pain and suffering of others while sending out happiness) can be key tools in ridding ourselves of negativity, anxiety and fear. Each of us has within us the power to overcome that which causes us fear. Chodron explains how we can use these tools to overcome almost any obstacle or challenge. Another book by the same author which is highly recommended is "When Things Fall Apart." Both offer excellent words of wisdom and advice and both are deserving of a five-star rating. Chodron is a teacher, a sage, an inspirationalist, a mentor and a prime example of one who is good, compassionate, understanding, kind and loving.
Rating: 
Summary: A discourse on the First Noble Truth
Review: Pema's book emphasizes the First Noble Truth of Buddhism: that there is suffering. Her main message seems to be that in order for us to be fully human and fully awake, we need to be fearless in our willingness to confront painful feelings, and we need to allow ourselves to fully empathize with others' suffering as well. We will thereby develop a compassionate and open heart. To tell the truth, I found the book rather unsatisfying, almost depressing, because of its over-emphasis on the need for a stoic, warrior mentality. (Perhaps I'm not spiritually advanced enough to face these hard truths.) Come on, Ms. Chodron! Have you forgotten the Third Noble Truth (that there is an end to suffering)? What happened to joy, peace, serenity, love, and nirvana? Isn't the cessation of suffering the entire aim of Buddhism? Western religions like Judaism, Christianity and Islam promise a lot to the true believer: protection, guidance and salvation by a loving God. Vedanta promises even more: union with God and pure bliss. Buddhism is rather different. It says that the cause of suffering is our own cravings, and that it is up to us to liberate ourselves from suffering. But even within Buddhism, there is a spectrum of beliefs and practices. For example, Tibetan Buddhists tend to have a more devotional and ritualistic religion, with more emphasis on positive spiritual attainment. With a somber book like Chodron's, Buddhism is going to be hard sell in the marketplace of religions. But I have to admit: the religion (stripped of some of its metaphysical baggage, e.g., reincarnation) makes more sense from a scientific, humanistic point of view.
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Summary: This book could change your life
Review: Straightforward, clear, and utterly true. For those of us who are seeking spiritual awareness but have never felt connected to mainstream religion, this book can be a real eye-opener. Focusing on a very simple meditation technique, Chodron allows us to open up to the sweetness in our hearts. She encourages us to become aware of the protective walls that we erect around our hearts, so we can see how much sorrow and unhappiness those walls can cause. The appendix has links to various organizations and websites that nicely augment the content.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent, SB 1 or God a serious compliment to this
Review: This author is one of the few who is very close to her work, She worked hard at putting this on paper and especially for any reader. To find peace is one thing, but since this book is truth that is hard to find Peace will last for the reader of this book. A simple meditation is taught with good backing and real spirtuality. A book also of giving, teaching reason for compatability. I give very few book reviews and the only reason I do is to recommend a read. This is a definite yes.
A very enlightening book that I must recommend is ourselves being one, titled SB 1 or God By Karl Mark Maddox, a book that gives the ultimate true reasons for enlightenment.
Rating:
Summary: Good book
Review: This book is a good one, and as challenging as one would expect. Practical, down to earth, funny, and honest. No dogma. The author is a compassionate person and it comes through in her writing. Pema Chodron, like another of my favorite authors, Taro Gold, simply invites us to think deeply. Also read 'Open Your Mind, Open Your Life: A Book of Eastern Wisdom' by Taro Gold. Excellent!
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Summary: Peering into the dark corners of the places that scare you
Review: This is the first Buddhist book I read which really reached out and grabbed me. I had read several other books before this one, trying to learn more about what Buddhism meant and whether or not it was right for me, but the other authors did not have Chodron's straight-forward, no-nonsense style, and I tended to find myself getting lost and confused and wondering if there was no way for me to learn more about Buddhism without having a teacher.
I read this book when I was going through a really horrible time in my life and I was floudering around looking for something to cling to. Instead, I found a book that told me that looking for things to cling to was exactly what brought me the kind of pain I was in in the first place.
There are so many truths to be found in this book, yet it's not a book that comes across as being preachy or, like so many other books on Buddhism, too cryptic for the non-practioner. Chodron shows that being compassionate towards others does not mean denying yourself and that being
Rating:
Summary: All her books are wonderful..........
Review: This is the second copy of this book I have bought, since I gave one copy to the local library because it is so wonderful. The whole book is overflowing with wise, gentle advise or wisdom as I prefer to call it. So many of the Chapters have added value to my life. Especially The Facts of Life which reminds us that life is fluid and never static so learn how to go with the flow and not have you canoe capsize. Or Learning to Stay when one is more apt to want to run away from a challenge. Finding the Ability to Rejoice was an excellent chapter because we humans, especially we Americans are all to apt to be self-centered and looking for what we think we want that we fail to see just how blessed and happy we really are. The Chapter on the Three Kinds Of Laziness is one most Americans need to read. The first kind of laziness the author shares is based on our tendency to want to avoid inconveniences. Second kind is loss of the heart, or the "poor me" habit. The third kind is the "couldn't care less" type which is often related to resentment. Or giving the world the obscene finger gesture. It's either the world owes me something and I'm not getting it or the idea that because we aren't getting what we think we want we get mad and basically say screw the world and we shut ourselves off from others. When the Going Gets Rough is also a great chapter because its a good kick in the pants reminder that life is both glorious high peaks where we can savour everything we see, as well as valleys with bogs and tough terrain, which if we would just stop complaining and instead become more observant, could provide wonderful life changing experiences just as great as the mountain top. In fact I am reminded of how the most successful and happy people often love the process of getting the success more than the success and in fact once they obtain success in something they aren't prone to sit on their buttocks but are quick to seek a new challenge that will provide more life changing and positive lessons.
Rating:
Summary: All her books are wonderful..........
Review: This is the second copy of this book I have bought, since I gave one copy to the local library because it is so wonderful. The whole book is overflowing with wise, gentle advise or wisdom as I prefer to call it. So many of the Chapters have added value to my life. Especially The Facts of Life which reminds us that life is fluid and never static so learn how to go with the flow and not have you canoe capsize. Or Learning to Stay when one is more apt to want to run away from a challenge. Finding the Ability to Rejoice was an excellent chapter because we humans, especially we Americans are all to apt to be self-centered and looking for what we think we want that we fail to see just how blessed and happy we really are. The Chapter on the Three Kinds Of Laziness is one most Americans need to read. The first kind of laziness the author shares is based on our tendency to want to avoid inconveniences. Second kind is loss of the heart, or the "poor me" habit. The third kind is the "couldn't care less" type which is often related to resentment. Or giving the world the obscene finger gesture. It's either the world owes me something and I'm not getting it or the idea that because we aren't getting what we think we want we get mad and basically say screw the world and we shut ourselves off from others. When the Going Gets Rough is also a great chapter because its a good kick in the pants reminder that life is both glorious high peaks where we can savour everything we see, as well as valleys with bogs and tough terrain, which if we would just stop complaining and instead become more observant, could provide wonderful life changing experiences just as great as the mountain top. In fact I am reminded of how the most successful and happy people often love the process of getting the success more than the success and in fact once they obtain success in something they aren't prone to sit on their buttocks but are quick to seek a new challenge that will provide more life changing and positive lessons.
Rating: 
Summary: Too theoretical and general
Review: To my dismay I find that this book gives very very little practical advice on how to live through difficult times. If you are in a difficult time, and want to seek some advice on how to cope, then dont waste your money on this book, as it would not help.
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