Summary of When Things Fall Apart: by Pema Chodron

Includes Key Takeaways & Analysis

By: FastReads

Narrated by: Kelly McGee

Length: 36 mins

Publisher's summary

"The most difficult times for many of us, are the ones we give ourselves."

"The most fundamental aggression to ourselves, the most fundamental harm we can do to ourselves, is to remain ignorant by not having the courage and the respect to look at ourselves honestly and gently."

"We don't set out to save the world; we set out to wonder how other people are doing and to reflect on how our actions affect other people's hearts."

"When we protect ourselves so we won't feel pain, that protection becomes like armor, like armor that imprisons the softness of the heart."

Don't miss Pema Chodron's in-depth look at fear, suffering, loneliness, and the Buddhist-inspired teachings that can help you become the best version of yourself. Accepting the struggle is part of transcending it, and this audiobook will show you how you can do that.

What will you learn from listening to this audiobook?

• You will learn about compassion
• You will learn about suffering, death, and discomfort
• You will learn about meditation
• You will learn how to live in the present moment
• You will learn how to be gentle towards yourself
• You will learn about the path
• You will learn about fear of death and existence/life
• You will learn about the four maras

Audiobook Summary Overview

Chodron utilizes the Buddhist teachings on suffering and death, in order to come to terms with struggle, loss, and unhappiness in her own life. This audiobook will teach you how you can do the same. Suffering is caused by our perceptions and opinions. We must not run away from suffering, as it only brings us closer to the suffering we are avoiding. It teaches us about compassion, and how it is directed not only to others, but also to ourselves.

This audiobook incorporates teachings of the Buddha into its discourse such as suffering, dharma, and tonglen. Listening to it will give you new perspective on the meaning of fear, how it is a vital part of our existence, and how to be kinder to yourself. When Things Fall Apart, will make you feel instantly better about your place in the world, and within yourself.

©2017 FastReads (P)2017 FastReads

Key takeaways often were the same as the “summary”

First and foremost, the voice of the reader was waaaaayyyy to high pitched for me, so maybe the rest of my review would be better if the high pitch didn’t give me such a headache.

That being said, more often than not, the summary and “analysis” of the chapter were very close to the same thing, or even word for word.

Excruciating reader.

Love Pema Chödrön and adore her teachings and delivery... The unfortunate voice of the narrator, Kelly McGee, serves as a nerve-grating, irritating barrier between my sensibilities and the wisdom teachings of messages conveyed in this synopsis . I’m sure there’s a lesson in this regarding samsara, alas, I’m not there yet. McGee’s anxiety/invoking, high-pitched clumsy cadence reminds me of a robotic AI whose program is unable to interpret natural rhythms of intonation. I’m simply unable to listen without clinching my teeth and inexplicably wanting to stab myself in the eye. Sigh...

I loved this one<br />

full of Chodrons good advice. easy to understand. good companion to original book. nice reading.

Oh my god the voice is horrible

I couldn't even listen to it in the car. The nasally high voice takes away from what she's saying. It's like an annoying substitute teacher reading cliffs notes instead of the book!

Terrible narrator

Not informative. Glad I did not pay much.. wish there were no stars. These stars are too hard to use. I did not want to give 2 stars but cannot erase,

good supplement to studies of Pema Chodron

What made the experience of listening to Summary of When Things Fall Apart: by Pema Chodron the most enjoyable?

This summary is a good introduction to the ideas and teaching from Things Fall Apart