Scan barcode
ingread27's review against another edition
4.0
What a beautiful book to begin the year with! This book is good for the heart, the mind, and the soul. It's so relevant today, as it will always be. Highly recommended!
the_schaef's review against another edition
3.0
This short book on Buddhist philosophy contains excellent advice. I was drawn to the concept of Tonglen Practice as a true way to connect and find peace in our common suffering. Insightful, helpful and clearly written, this book is a great building block for a spiritual practice or exploration.
miraclemarg's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
freckleduck's review against another edition
4.0
It felt like this book took forever to read between it needing to be returned to the library and life in general. I really appreciated the insights it provided and how it gave me another way to look at the world.
alannajane's review against another edition
5.0
Whether you are Buddhist or not, this is a beautiful book to help contemplate how habitual (often unconscious) thinking leads to suffering, especially in relation to facing unexpected, sudden, dramatic change or uncertainty. You do not need any background in spirituality or Buddhism to get a LOT out of this book. All you require is curiosity and an open mind ready for learning. This book is especially poignant in these unprecedented times of the COVID-19 virus and mass world reactions to it. The reading of the audiobook by Claire Foy is absolutely delightful.
tommyhousworth's review against another edition
5.0
While Pema has continued to release audiobooks of her talks and retreats on a fairly regular basis, it's been almost seven years since she's published a new, full-length book (2012's "Living Beautifully with Uncertainty and Change"). This one was definitely worth the wait, as she has gathered up so many rich teachings and simple practices that are designed to serve us in these tumultuous times.
With chapters entitled "The Fine Art of Failure", "The Practice of Open Awareness", "Life Changes in an Instant", "Imagine Life without Ego", and "How You Label It Is How It Appears", Pema cuts to the heart of how we work with our discursive thinking, our negative thoughts, and our habitual patterns to approach our lives with equanimity and appreciation.
She gently takes readers to the edges of their comfort zones and then points beyond them, encouraging us to risk welcoming the unwelcome, whether it be our own anxiety, a disruptive person in our lives, or that most unwelcome of visitors, death itself.
If you've read her earlier works, none of what is here might be revelatory, per se, but it is presented in a fresh context, with a keen awareness that life in 2019 feels very uneasy for many of us. She also addresses the uneasy topic of what happens when one feels betrayed by a valued teacher, something many in various spiritual communities have experienced of late.
If the title of the book seems daunting, know that Pema guides readers with an assured hand through the messiness of our own day-to-day lives, as well as the challenges of negotiating what it means to face national and global challenges with courage and unconditional confidence in our - and others' - basic goodness.
I got this book from our local library, but I will have to buy a copy now that I've read it so I can do what I do to most of Pema's books: highlight passages and make messy notes all over the margins. It's that kind of book. It's that kind of goodness.
With chapters entitled "The Fine Art of Failure", "The Practice of Open Awareness", "Life Changes in an Instant", "Imagine Life without Ego", and "How You Label It Is How It Appears", Pema cuts to the heart of how we work with our discursive thinking, our negative thoughts, and our habitual patterns to approach our lives with equanimity and appreciation.
She gently takes readers to the edges of their comfort zones and then points beyond them, encouraging us to risk welcoming the unwelcome, whether it be our own anxiety, a disruptive person in our lives, or that most unwelcome of visitors, death itself.
If you've read her earlier works, none of what is here might be revelatory, per se, but it is presented in a fresh context, with a keen awareness that life in 2019 feels very uneasy for many of us. She also addresses the uneasy topic of what happens when one feels betrayed by a valued teacher, something many in various spiritual communities have experienced of late.
If the title of the book seems daunting, know that Pema guides readers with an assured hand through the messiness of our own day-to-day lives, as well as the challenges of negotiating what it means to face national and global challenges with courage and unconditional confidence in our - and others' - basic goodness.
I got this book from our local library, but I will have to buy a copy now that I've read it so I can do what I do to most of Pema's books: highlight passages and make messy notes all over the margins. It's that kind of book. It's that kind of goodness.
wildgurl's review against another edition
5.0
Welcoming The Unwelcome:Wholehearted Living In A Brokenhearted World
by Pema Chodren
due 10-15-2019
Shambhala
5.0 / 5.0
#netgalley. #WelcomingTheUnwelcome
Powerful and beautifully written, sharing wisdom and common sense practices to help us not succumb to the negativity and polarization gripping so many in this nation. In a very concise, conscientious and positive way, Pema has always been an inspiration, reminding me how much fuller life could be for everyone if we all practiced having more open minds and more open hearts.
Pemas books have been an inspiration and are empowering to me. All we think and do most definitely affects much more than yourself. I'm so glad I discovered Pema years ago, and still look to her for empowerment and direction.
A huge thanks to netgalley and Shambhala for sharing this e-book ARC for review.
by Pema Chodren
due 10-15-2019
Shambhala
5.0 / 5.0
#netgalley. #WelcomingTheUnwelcome
Powerful and beautifully written, sharing wisdom and common sense practices to help us not succumb to the negativity and polarization gripping so many in this nation. In a very concise, conscientious and positive way, Pema has always been an inspiration, reminding me how much fuller life could be for everyone if we all practiced having more open minds and more open hearts.
Pemas books have been an inspiration and are empowering to me. All we think and do most definitely affects much more than yourself. I'm so glad I discovered Pema years ago, and still look to her for empowerment and direction.
A huge thanks to netgalley and Shambhala for sharing this e-book ARC for review.