Customer Reviews

Awakening Loving-Kindness (Shambhala Pocket Classics)

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This tiny book has had a huge impact on my life. While I have often been glibly advised to live with kindness, or by the golden rule, I have never seen such clarity on HOW to live with kindness and compassion toward others, and especially toward self. This is a book to read over and over, to highlight and to underline. A book to absorb. Themes are joy, balance, fear, trust, kindness, openness, wisdom, perspective, courage, and awareness.

This tiny book is an abridged version of "Wisdom of No Escape," Ani Chödrön's first major work. Ani is a title for Buddhist Nuns or Bhikshunis. She is spiritual director of Gampo Abbey (named for the medieval master Gampopa). However, only 4 chapters were excluded. Its size is conducive to carrying it around with you for inspiration or to share with others (I tend to give away books after reading them). Its major points include: not preferring samsara (the usual, relative world) to nirvana (the ultimate world), integrating taught and experienced Dharma (teachings), (p. 122): playfulness-learning to play like a raven in the wind, Tonglen (sending and receiving practice), Bodhichitta (compassion), and the wheel of life. It includes some less than obvious observations such as:
p. 28: "the desire to change fundamentally a form of aggression toward oneself...If you throw out your neurosis, you also throw out your wisdom."
p. 60: Life is such a miracle, and a lot of the time we feel only resentment about how it's all working out for us."

It also includes some of her wonderful teaching stories:
pp. 65-7: samurai who asked a master to explain heaven and hell
pp. 75-7: God with ½ red and ½ blue hat walking down the middle of a street.

So, you can read "Wisdom of No Escape" for completeness, but consider owning a copy of "Awakening Loving Kindness" too.

A good friend recommended Pema Chodron's books to me, and I am so glad I took his advice and bought this book! I keep this little book in my purse and carry it with me everywhere, and read it in those "wasted" moments waiting in a doctors office, or riding in a car, even while waiting in line at the bank on a Friday afternoon. The poor thing is wrinkled and bent from use, travel, and being read, over and over! There is much wisdom here in Pema Chodron's easy to read, easy to understand book, and it can be applied to anyone of any faith. I recommend Awakening Loving- Kindness to everyone!

A little gem of a book. I highly recommend it. I keep it in my sack with me most of the time even though I have read it twice through already. She really drives home the truth that trying to change yourself is aggression against yourself. I have found a lot of wisdom in this tiny tome. Please partake, too.

I picked this up on whim from my local library and was far from disappointed. I've been getting into a lot of the pocket classics lately, and this one is top five for me.

Chodron has helped me enter a simple kind of meditation called 'tonglen.' Unlike many forms of meditation we hear about, this one is very practical and beneficial in many venues. There are many useful sections in this book. A must bye for pocket classics fans.

You are right next to my pillow and before going to sleep, I daily read some of your insightful words. You make my heart glow!! In loving kindness to a wonderful teacher.

Pema Chodron makes Buddhist tenets accessible through her wonderfully clear writing. The pocket size of this book is very pleasing.

I love Pema's philosophy. This book just helped me to remember to practice spiritual practices in my daily life. She helps me to remember to soften my heart and not get triggered over situations, people, etc. that I have no control over.

Purchased this as a gift. It is a soothing thought-provoking book. I've read it through several times. I keep it by my bed and usually pick up and read a few random sentences or pages each day. I was first introduced to it when I was going through a very difficult time -- now I read it as a reminder and for the insight that is so easy to miss when you get caught up in the daily routine of life.

Lovely little book--small but dense with helpful and insightful words. Short but informative passages about buddhist principles and practices--the sections on meditation are particularly helpful. There is a lightness and humor in the writing style that enhances the pleasure in reading this little book.