Welcoming the Unwelcome: Wholehearted Living in a Brokenhearted WorldFrom the bestselling author of When Things Fall Apart, an open-hearted call for human connection, compassion, and learning to love the world just as it is during these most challenging times. In her first new book of spiritual teachings in over seven years, Pema Chödrön offers a combination of wisdom, heartfelt reflections, and the signature mix of humor and insight that have made her a beloved figure to turn to during times of change. In an increasingly polarized world, Pema shows us how to strengthen our abilities to find common ground, even when we disagree, and influence our environment in positive ways. Sharing never-before told personal stories from her remarkable life, simple and powerful everyday practices, and directly relatable advice, Pema encourages us all to become triumphant bodhisattvas--compassionate beings--in times of hardship. Welcoming the Unwelcome includes teachings on the true meaning of karma, recognizing the basic goodness in ourselves and the people we share our lives with--even the most challenging ones, transforming adversity into opportunities for growth, and freeing ourselves from the empty and illusory labels that separate us. Pema also provides step-by-step guides to a basic sitting meditation and a compassion meditation that anyone can use to bring light to the darkness we face, wherever and whatever it may be. |
Contents
Begin with a Broken Heart | 1 |
Does It Matter? | 11 |
Overcoming Polarization | 20 |
The Fine Art of Failure | 30 |
The Path of NonRejecting | 35 |
Just as It Is | 42 |
How Not to Lose Heart | 48 |
Beyond the Comfort Zone | 57 |
Life Changes in an Instant | 87 |
Cool Emptiness | 95 |
Experiencing Nowness | 100 |
Birth and Death in Every Moment | 106 |
Imagine Life without Ego | 112 |
Our Wisdom Changes the World | 118 |
Welcoming the Unwelcome with Laughter | 124 |
Mission Impossible | 139 |
Speaking from Our Shared Humanity | 66 |
How You Label It Is How It Appears | 73 |
The Practice of Open Awareness | 81 |
Tonglen Practice | 154 |
About the Author | 167 |
Other editions - View all
Welcoming the Unwelcome: Wholehearted Living in a Brokenhearted World Pema Chodron Limited preview - 2020 |
Welcoming the Unwelcome: Wholehearted Living in a Brokenhearted World Pema Chodron Limited preview - 2019 |
Welcoming the Unwelcome: Wholehearted Living in a Brokenhearted World Pema Chodron No preview available - 2020 |
Common terms and phrases
able aggression Anam Thubten anger awakening basic become begin birth and death bodhi bodhichitta bodhisattva breathe bring bubble Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche comfort zone compassion connect continually Dalai Lama Dharma discover Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche emotions emptiness everything experience fear feel fixations fully Gampo Abbey give groundlessness habits habitual patterns happens hold the rawness human humor idea imputed meaning insight Joan Didion Karmapa keep kind koan learning zone let go lives lojong look lose meditation Naropa University natural negative never non-rejection open awareness pain path payu Pema Chödrön person polarization practice reality realize relax samsara sense Shantideva shunyata situation someone space spiritual stay stop storyline stuck suffering talking teacher tendency there's Thogme Zangpo thoughts Thrangu Rinpoche Three Jewels Tibetan tonglen Trungpa Rinpoche turn unpleasant Vajrayana vulnerability wake Welcoming the Unwelcome what's wisdom words