How to Meditate with Pema Chödrön: A Practical Guide to Making Friends with Your Mind

When it comes to meditation, Pema Ch dr n is widely regarded as one of the world's foremost teachers. Yet she's never offered an introductory course on audio--until now.

On How to Meditate with Pema Ch dr n, the American-born Tibetan Buddhist nun and bestselling author presents her first complete spoken-word course for those new to meditation.

Through traditional insights and her personal guidance, offered in 12 sitting sessions, Pema Ch dr n will help you honestly meet and compassionately relate with your mind as you explore:

The basics of mindfulness awareness practice, from proper posture to learning to settle to breathing and relaxation
- Gentleness, patience, and humor--three ingredients for a well-balanced practice
- Shamatha (or calm abiding), the art of stabilizing the mind to remain present with whatever arises
- Thoughts and emotions as sheer delight--instead of obstacles--in meditation
From my own experience and from listening to many people over the years, I've tried to offer here what I feel are the essential points of meditation, explains Pema Ch dr n. Now this beloved voice shares with you her accessible approach--simple and down-to-earth while informed by the highest traditions of Tibetan Buddhism--on How to Meditate with Pema Ch dr n.

Author: Pema Chodron
Publisher: Sounds True
Published: 01/01/2008
Pages: 5
Binding Type: CD
Weight: 0.43lbs
Size: 5.88h x 5.48w x 1.05d
ISBN: 9781591797944


Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 03/31/2008 pg. 59

About the Author

Pema Chödrön
Ani Pema Chödrön was born Deirdre Blomfield-Brown in 1936, in New York City. She attended Miss Porter's School in Connecticut and graduated from the University of California at Berkeley. She taught as an elementary school teacher for many years in both New Mexico and California. Pema has two children and three grandchildren.

While in her mid-thirties, Ani Pema traveled to the French Alps and encountered Lama Chime Rinpoche, with whom she studied for several years. She became a novice nun in 1974 while studying with Lama Chime in London. His Holiness the Sixteenth Karmapa came to Scotland at that time, and Ani Pema received her ordination from him.

Pema first met her root guru, Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, in 1972. Lama Chime encouraged her to work with Rinpoche, and it was with him that she ultimately made her most profound connection, studying with him from 1974 until his death in 1987. At the request of the Sixteenth Karmapa, she received the full bikshuni ordination in the Chinese lineage of Buddhism in 1981 in Hong Kong.

Ani Pema served as the director of Karma Dzong in Boulder, Colorado until moving in 1984 to rural Cape Breton, Nova Scotia to be the director of Gampo Abbey. Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche gave her explicit instructions on establishing this monastery for western monks and nuns.

Ani Pema currently teaches in the United States and Canada and plans for an increased amount of time in solitary retreat under the guidance of Venerable Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche. She is also a student of Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, the oldest son and lineage holder of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche.

Ani Pema is interested in helping establish Tibetan Buddhist monasticism in the West, as well as continuing her work with western Buddhists of all traditions, sharing ideas and teachings. Her non-profit, The Pema Chödrön Foundation, was set up to assist in this purpose.

She has written several books: The Wisdom of No Escape, Start Where You Are, When Things Fall Apart, The Places that Scare You, No Time To Lose, Practicing Peace in Times of War, How to Meditate, and Living Beautifully. All are available from Shambhala Publications and Sounds True.