• Awakening Compassion

  • Meditation Practices for Difficult Times
  • By: Pema Chödrön
  • Narrated by: Pema Chodron
  • Length: 6 hrs and 48 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (440 ratings)

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Awakening Compassion  By  cover art

Awakening Compassion

By: Pema Chödrön
Narrated by: Pema Chodron
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Publisher's summary

For more than 800 years, Tibetan Buddhists have used the principles of lojong (literally, "mind training") to transform difficulties into insights, and conflict into genuine communication. Lojong practice is grounded in a special meditation technique and complemented by 59 written maxims - a treasury of practical wisdom that inspires everyday awareness. Awakening Compassion is the first audio retreat on the practice of lojong taught by Pema Chödrön, the American-born Tibetan Buddhist nun and best-selling author. With an informal teaching style, both playful and insightful, Pema uses restful meditations in teaching the lojong way for turning painful emotions into the stepping stones to wisdom, compassion, and fearlessness.
©1995 Pema Chö 24 6

What listeners say about Awakening Compassion

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Loved it.

A funny teaching on Tonglen. If you don't know what Tonglen is, learn. It will change your life (no guarantee). This is a great source to learn Tonglen. If you don't want to spend the money on this particular book, because you aren't sure what Tonglen is. Research it, and then come back and get this book. Or don't. Also check out Pema Chodrons book on Audible.com called Good Medicine.

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28 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Pema Is A Hidden Treasure

Pema Chodron is a true hidden treasure living right here on Canada's East Coast. She brings the Buddhist teachings to life with her colorful antics that are based on her years of experiences with the practices.

I would also say to those pondering the purchase of her audio selections, that you can't go wrong in choosing any one of her precious recordings. However, you will be missing out if you don't listen to them all.

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19 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

Not what you might expect

This book is not what I was expecting to have; the sound is terrible, bad quality to say the least. You hear all throughout the book people coughing and moving chairs much more clearly than narration. I have tried different books and others are far better than this one in sound quality. Meditations are not very different from others. I would not recommend this audible book, buy a hard copy and read it instead.

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17 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Valuable teachings!

I love her description of Ego in one talk. These lojong teachings are powerful, and pema teaches them really well.

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11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Pema is the One

For many years I have been "finding myself" or at least trying to get a glimpse. I have read heard many authors and writers and Pema , at this point , tops them all. Her grace, humor and life stories touch me in my many ways. When I find the world closing in and my Spirit fading out, she brings me back to center.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Another Amazing Set of Teachings from Pema Chodron

I loved Awakening Compassion, and incorporated the Tonglen practice as she outlines it into my daily meditation. Pema is the perfect teacher for even the most cynical students: non-dogmatic, practical, loving and humorous. She makes Buddhist practice fun and encourages you to "start where you are."

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Awakening My Own Compassion

For the past three years, I have noticed that my circle of compassion (as Pema Chodron calls it) has grown smaller and smaller, until even myself wasn't included in it. The dwindling of this circle has gone unnoticed and it wasn't until after listening to a few chapters of this audio program that such a happening was made apparent to me. I thought myself to be such a jerk, both to others and myself, and now I'm realizing that such an attitude is part of the spiritual warrior's path. The journey to the Self is variegated and deeply personal. Therefore, there is no method that can be used; there are only techniques that work and those that do not. This audio program primarily uses two techniques: Tonglen and Lojong. Both of these have proved, to me, quite helpful in this journey. I can now say that, after finishing this program and practicing Tonglen for 10 minutes every night for a week, I don't feel quite so much like a jerk. I still feel like a worm, but the practice encourages me to feel my worm-ness and get in touch with what that feels like, and to realize that other people feel this worm-ness too. And by not running away from this feeling and instead breathing it in, getting to know it fully, compassion will grow: for myself and for other people. I bought this book 7 years ago and forgot all the teachings when things were going really well. Now I'm back in the same position before I bought the book, haha. This time, I'll take it slowly, one moment at a time, one breath at a time.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Hits home in the heart

After being a follower of the Buddha for many years,
I seldom find a teacher who distills his teachings into an easy flowing, humorous and immediately usable way, that westerners are expect....this is someone who has obviously applied those teachings to herself, and has the real wisdom to pass on to us....please purchase this Audio, if you want REAL happiness for yourself and others!!!!

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Very Inspiring

I really enjoyed listening to her and the teachings. Tonglen is really "the" practice that I think every human being shall be made aware of...Pema for me, is undoubtfully "the" teacher...Thank you Pema for choosing to share your wisdom with us.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Kb
  • 02-08-17

Powerful transmission

Concept well presented
Recommend bookmarking first and then reading all over again in depth
Only drawback is recording quality

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2 people found this helpful