Getting Unstuck: Breaking Your Habitual Patterns and Encountering Naked Reality

This is a wonderful, very helpful talk about how to enter into your life completely. Pema's main point has to do with "Learning to Stay", which refers to the fact that we stay stuck because we run away from things we don't like and therefore never learn the lessons that these events/feelings are offering us.
This audiobook is very easy to listen to and doesn't contain a whole lot of Buddhist jargon. Pema does use a few Tibetan terms but explains them very well so that they become part of your vocabulary.
Overall, this book is extremely practical and offers valuable practices we can use to make our lives happier. I would say that is a pretty good return on your investment.

I've lost track of how many times I have listened to this book... at least 5 times... I always hear something new each time... (big surprise huh?..)... She is a delight!... Yes... I'm still still scratching... But... her insights have allowed me to see the itch... Just listening has brought about a very profound understanding of the itch we all have (any one of several hundred thousand or several million things)... and increased my awareness to the next level... For anyone on "The Path"... this is a Very Special Book and MUST LISTEN!!.... Thank you for reading my review...

I listened to this a few times and it seemed interesting but nothing clicked. Then I started experiencing my usual anxiety before the holiday arrival of my 'high maintenance" in-laws; I listened to the audio again and it calmed me and helped me realize their behavior need not effect me. During the visit, I remained focused, no buttons were pushed and I was able to speak up and stand on my own feet metaphorically. I also was able to analyze some of their more hurtful comments and realize they came from places within their history and had nothing to do with me. It was an almost fun visit, at the very least survivable. The only downside is that hey had so much fun they are coming back much sooner than usual.

Pema Chodron is one of the few teachers that can cut to the heart of the human condition with gentleness. The ability to lay bare the harshest truths of ourselves while still holding us in the heart of true compassion is her signature. I found myself willing to experiment and apply these practices to areas of life which I've been protecting.

This series of talks covers the practice of shamatha meditation in great depth, coming at it from several different angles. It specializes in the mechanism of attachment and the role this plays in our suffering, especially in the form of repeating patterns and addictions.

WISDOM FOR ALL, NOT JUST BUDDHISTS: If you have already ventured into mindfulness meditation (if not, check out Jon kabat-Zinn's "Mindfulness Meditation for Beginners" or one of Chodron's introductory books), then this is a great next step, especially if you want to get unstuck from "sticky" issues that hold us all back.

Pema speaks compassionately in her lyrical, embracing voice about coming to terms with issues such as anger, fear, and substance abuse. There are several very useful Q & A sessions, in which Chodron counsels audience members struggling with obsessions. From food to the rage that can sometimes live in activists who want to change the world for the better, Pema offers concrete solution.

This book offers readers the courage to face--and embrace--sticky issues. If you are seeking help for alcohol abuse, food addictions, rage, or grief--then Chodron's advice will help. I will listen to this audio book over and over. It pours a lot of wisdom and hope into my earbuds.

Wow. I highly recommend this book for anyone who is suffering in the past. Pema is a delight to listen to, I am not a book on tape person, but she is easy on the ears and engaging. I was so moved in parts of this speech, due to her kind and gentle voice, that explained things I was unable to recognize. I will be purchasing more of her audio books, as she has a lot more to teach me.

Five out of five! Why not? We each have a point of view, each as valid as the next.

How rare and fortunate: to experience the teachings of Pema Chodron as if you were right there with her, sitting on your cushion, knees aching, back screaming, skin crawling, mind racing -- wondering, worrying, evaluating, judging, pressing, pushing, pulling, loving, hating -- struggling to stay awake, falling asleep, inspired beyond words, dazed with clarity, lost in convoluted complexity of authentic, screaming to get up and out of the room, out of your life and into another, more manageable one. And then she laughs at herself.... And you laugh uncontrollably at yourself.... a blissful moment of utter relief.

Then - Repeat.

This audio is so inspiring, spiritual, and personal. Pema Chodron's naration is exquisit, she is so turely compasionate in helping us touch our own soul. She helped me go deep inside and look into my soul to really understand my true emotions and gave me the teaching necessary to go deep and step outside of my self, letting go of ego as well as fear bringing my meditation to a higher level.

I'm not Buddhist, and don't know much about Buddism, but I love listening to Pema Chodron. I've listened to this several times and each time I enjoy it and get something new from it. Her delivery is so peaceful, yet fresh and humorous, too.

You wold think Buddhism would be boring but Pema was so funny and engaging that I would like to this over and over and over again.