Smile at Fear: A Retreat with Pema Chodron on Discovering Your Radiant Self-Confidence

by Pema Chödrön, Carolyn Rose Gimian

We all have fears, but when we look closely at them, we discover that behind each fear resides a basic fear of ourselves . We’re afraid to look at our habitual styles of thinking and behaving because we might not always like what we see. Ironically it is this fear of honest self-reflection that keeps us trapped in patterns of stress and discontentment. Here is a vision for moving beyond this most basic fear to discover the innate bravery, trust, and joy that reside at the core of our being. In this recorded retreat, Pema Chödrön shares teachings inspired by the book Smile at Fear , which was written by her teacher Chögyam Trungpa. She, and her teaching assistant, Carolyn Rose Gimian, also share practices they received from Trungpa Rinpoche for courageously meeting ourselves in the present moment,
•    The Windhorse a three-step meditation on awakening confidence
•    Spiritual Warrior training for meeting life with courage and compassion
•    Meditation instruction for calming the mind and developing concentration

4 CDs, 4 ½ hours

Genres: Buddhism, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Meditation, Self Help, Audiobook, Religion

270 pages, Audio CD

First published November 1, 2011

About the author

Ani Pema Chödrön (Deirdre Blomfield-Brown) is an American Buddhist nun in the Tibetan tradition, closely associated with the Kagyu school and the Shambhala lineage.

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, she 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 England at that time, and Ani Pema received her ordination from him.

Ani Pema first met her root guru, Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, in 1972. Lama Chime encouraged her to work with Trungpa, 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 the Karma Dzong, in Boulder, CO, 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.

Reviews

[Tim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite Pema lecture. The intrusion of Carolyn Rose Gimian and the repetition of stories I have heard Pema tell before and a perceived (on my part, of course) lack of cohesion to the whole lecture left me unsatisfied.

I think I get the most out of Pema's work when she reads her own books (Joanna Rotte who reads several of the books often sounds condescending). I actually have two copies of "When Things Fall Apart" one at work and one at home. It's fantastic. "Unconditional Confidence" (which is one cd of lecture and one of interview) is better than this (and on the same subject). Pair it with "Fearless Heart" and I think it covers this subject.

I plan on relistening (probably multiple times) and if opinion changes I'll update this.

[Suze · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent audiobook for me while in the car and buzzing around town – a kind of antidote to my whirling activity. Pema Chodrin’s very practical and grounded-in-daily-life approach is perfect in small bytes. I would find it overwhelming to listen for an hour – no time for digestion and reflection. Although I’m not Buddhist, there is much mindful food for thought on the nature of fear and ways we might alter our responses. A large part of the enjoyment is Pema’s voice – her genuine warmth and humour saturate everything she has to say. I’ll be listening to this many times over.

[Eva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pema is great. I was introduced to her by several people simultaneously and decided to give her books a chance. I'm not a spiritual person at all and I generally eschew self-help books, but I found her writing to be thoughtful, smart, and helpful.

[Camia Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Again and again, Pema uses her grace with words to do acupuncture on my soul, releasing repressed energy and unnecessary tension within me.

[Connan Morrissey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Her voice, calm spirit and gentle advice give the listener working tools to deal with uncertainty and anxiety. She has made mistakes. But her journey is a brave one and she has almost single handedly brought Buddhism to a US audience.

[Letecia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will definitely listen to this again a few more times.

[DK · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am sickened to learn that Pema Chodron has been complicit to the sexual abuse in the lineage. Many women reported abuse to her, Judith Simmer-Brown and Judy Leaf. They did nothing. Pema never stepped down as a teacher. She never retired. She gave up her title. Everyone gave up their titles. This isn’t a virtuous gesture.

Before you lay into me with your defense for this woman, I strongly suggest you Google Shambhala sexual abuse. The history of rape, child molestation and abuse is endless and g continues to this day. Her head monk was just charged with voyeurism at her monastery - Gampo Abbey. The money from the books we buy goes to continue supporting this sick organization. It is absolutely heartbreaking to me she has become an apologist and has never come to support the victims.

https://matthewremski.medium.com/the-...

https://www.gurumag.com/pema-chodron-...

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-s...

I have more esteem for my spiritual development than to follow a sham.

[Kate Madsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, I am incapable of giving Pema less than 5 stars. Talking about my petty aversions to this and to that here and there, well I can't do it. I am entirely uncritical. Love will do that. I actually did this retreat and only skimmed the resulting documentation of it. It was a great experience. I recently learned that the HBO series Enlightened with Laura Durn (sp?) is based on the screenwriter's experience with Pema's writings.

[Katie Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

I want to give this a 4. 3.5! Pema is great. She's witty and insightful but maybe because this is a retreat on CD I felt I missed a lot of the application of the work. If you attended the workshop I assume you did more practice. Worth a listen though.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anything by Pema Chodron is worth reading!

[Amy "Mrs. V" Velasco · Rating 5 out of 5]

I attended this retreat in Northern California in 2010 and it was transformative.

[Erin]

Listen fully and revisit often.

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this. She is entertaining, but I also learned things that can help me with my anxiety and depression.

[Katrina Sark · Rating 1 out of 5]

Pain is not a punishment; pleasure is not a reward. They are ordinary occurancies. (Pema Chodron, Smile at Fear)

[Tommy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pema Chodron never disappoints.

[Kate Lawrence · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to this on audio. Useful ideas and practices from an experienced teacher with a big heart.

[MountainAshleah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audio. I enjoy listening in the car.

[Tina Panik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Immensely helpful, with keywords and practices that warrant repeating.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Smile at Fear: A Retreat with Pema Chodron is a valuable book. In it, she discusses the teachings of her teacher, Chgyam Trungpa, in his book SMILE AT FEAR.

This is a helpful, but somewhat advanced and deep book that asks us to look at our fear. Gently, we examine what our fear is about and how it is related to habitual behaviors and ways of thinking. This will help us to unlock and, hopefully, release some of our responses to fear.

Pema also teaches us the Windhorse Practice, a Buddhist practice to access our own courageous self in the present moment.

This one approaches a difficult topic and needs to be considered over and over again in order to grasp its hidden treasures.

[Lisa Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pema is a great mentor and an encouraging voice for all of us

[Heather Larcombe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ms. Chodron is probably quite entertaining in person. Good advice in a very summary format. May have to hunt up the book the retreat was based on.

[Penny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wise, kind and witty words.

[Anke Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a difficult book fir me as I had a hard time comprehending all the techniques. Of course it could very well be due to me not excelling yet at meditation. I am still a beginner.

[Christy-JC Carter]

I need to listen to this on a loop! Such helpful, practical, and clear advice for living with each other and, even more the point, with ourselves.

[Erich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always a joy listening to Pema Chödrön