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)

Must read for all human beings

Would you consider the audio edition of Getting Unstuck to be better than the print version?

Pema's gentle humor and delightfully natural manner lend depth to the teachings.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Getting Unstuck?

Pema discusses how life progress and growth is never very smooth and is always a struggle when she says "our progress is 5 steps forward, 5 steps back, 5 steps forward 4 and 1/2 steps back." This attitude of the whole book allows for us to be both flawed and hopeful as we grow.

What about Pema Chodron’s performance did you like?

Everything! Her understated sense of humor and the way she laughs at herself is so refreshing. Her humbleness and wisdom go hand and hand and it's simply amazing to listen to her words flow so smoothly carrying you along with the story.

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

That it's okay to be flawed and that while progress is slow, just the act of recognizing failure is, in itself, progress.

Any additional comments?

Very good book for anyone working to recover from addiction or has been effected by another person's addictive behaviors. Also good for human beings in general.

True wisdom on how to break free from harmful patterns

Such a lovely lecture. Well worth every penny for the Audible version. Would recommend listening to her other lecture, Don’t Bite the Hook, first. But both are great, for Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike.

Meditation talks

These talks were excellent. I've read a lot of books about meditation and this one delved deep into concepts I hadn't heard much about. Most notably: shenpa. Highly recommend!

on repeat for two years...

...and I still hear things I never heard and understand things I didn't understand the previous listening. Deep accessible dharma here. Pema has a way of really getting you to get it. I love this about her.

Very sound advice for those who are on the path.

I've read a lot of books on meditation and her understanding of the process is amazing. Her delivery is very kind, compassionate and soothing.

Incredible!

What an amazing talk. A true blessing in my life and something so practical and useable. Highly highly recommended!

Simple and straightforward

I enjoyed the book helping to live a better life. The author is humble and human. Truths nicely expressed

Just what I always need to hear

Pema Chodron's words always help me to think easily. I listen to this book often, randomly picking a place to begin. It is always exactly what I need to hear at the moment.

When you’re sick and tired of being sick and tired

It’s one thing to treat symptoms that keeping us going round and round and round the same mountain… it’s another entirely to lean in to root causes which widen the scope of of our path. Thank you, Pema. Again. ✨

This helped me, at a very stucky part in my life!

I so much appreciated & understood this audible Pema, is my hero. This helped to see clear or getting stuck in my ex-husbands hook.