Getting Unstuck

Breaking Your Habitual Patterns and Encountering Naked Reality

By: Pema Chödrön

Narrated by: Pema Chodron

Length: 3 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

Have you ever had an itch, and not scratched it? In the Buddhist tradition, this points to a vast paradox: that by refraining from our urge to "scratch", great peace and happiness is available. On Getting Unstuck, Pema Chodron introduces a rare Tibetan teaching she received from her teacher, Dzigar Kontrul Rinpoche, and one that has become critical to her practice. Here, she unveils the mystery of an ineffable quality; a "pre-emotional" feeling that arises in us, brings us discomfort, and causes us to react by escaping the discomfort, often with harmful habits. With Getting Unstuck, she offers us a first look at "both the itch and the scratch": what Tibetan Buddhists call shenpa.

On this new, full-length recording, Pema Chodron, best-selling author and beloved American Buddhist nun, shows us how to recognize shenpa, catch it as it appears, and develop a playful, lively curiosity toward it. Join Pema Chodron to discover more about:

Critical mind: how to recognize this fundamental shenpa, and approach yourself and others with a sense of humor and loving-kindness

Ways to unravel the patterns of self-denigration, and develop the fundamental maitri, loving-kindness, toward yourself

How to cultivate acceptance of your irritability, insecurities, and other simply human traits

Recognition, Refrain, Relaxing, and Resolve: the four R's of working with shenpa, and more

An urge comes up, we succumb to it, and it becomes stronger, teaches Pema Chodron. We reinforce our cravings, habits, and addictions by giving into them repeatedly. On Getting Unstuck, Chodron guides us through this "sticky feeling", exploring the moments when we get hooked, and offers us tools for learning to stay with our uneasiness, soften our hearts toward ourselves and others, and live a more peaceful life in the fullness of the present moment.

©2005 Pema Chodron (P)2005 Sounds True

Critic reviews

"Chodron demonstrates how effective the Buddhist point of view can be in bringing order into disordered lives." (Publishers Weekly)

manage shenpa <br /><br />

this great book allows you to manage the things that make you nervous or get you stuck

Pema is amazing

There is something so gentle and encouraging about Pema. Even when the concept is not new to me, it’s always easier to hear and accept it from her.

Healing Mind

Wonderful work with direct experience of value of meditation for healing growth and well being. Pema narrates it herself, which is crucial. It is direct transmission of the teaching.

Over and over

What made the experience of listening to Getting Unstuck the most enjoyable?

Hearing Pema Chodron, her voice is so soothing it almost wouldn't matter what she was saying, her just saying it makes it worth listening to.

What did you like best about this story?

I have been a student of the Buddha and meditation for a long time. Pema added more by helping me relax more.I listen over and over and gather new things each time.

Have you listened to any of Pema Chodron’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No,this was my first. I will, for sure, listen to more.

What did you learn from Getting Unstuck that you would use in your daily life?

The things that "snag" me, those things that like to tug my thinking into the negative, she named it, I use it now when I can catch the hook. Amazing.

Any additional comments?

Anyone maybe new to meditation would surely benefit from this listen, anyone already on the path could use the refresher. Thank you Pema.

Excellent

This book is my first by Pema, and it did not disappoint . I'm a fan and recommend to those who need a different perspective or new ideas.

Wisdom, expressed with grace, humor, & humility

Pema Chodron does an amazing job in this workshop that was recorded live in expressing timeless wisdom in an approachable way. The sound quality is quite good, and the sessions build on one another with actionable practices. Highly recommend this to anyone with a pulse.

This will stay in my library forever.

It's a game changer. I listened to this book at just the right time in my life & I'll return to it again & again for friendly reminders about just living life. Totally worth the listen.

always helpful!

I listen to this over and over again it's always helpful. I highly recommend it.

A book that will always help when you are stressed

I find her instructions on meditation very helpful. her explanation of the sticky quality of thoughts and the impact of compounding internal stress (shenpa in Tibetan) actually gave me paradigm change that I needed.

Beautiful, funny, full of wisdom

I loved it; is that kind of book/talk that you always want to have in your “shelf”. Has to be part of your collection of “great books/talks”. Pema just got herself a new disciple. LOVE HER