Fully Alive: A Retreat with Pema Chodron on Living Beautifully with Uncertainty and Change

by Pema Chödrön

We live in difficult times. Life sometimes seems like a roiling and turbulent river threatening to drown us. Why, in the face of that, shouldn’t we cling for safety to the certainty of the shore—to our comfortably familiar patterns and habits? Because, Pema Chödrön teaches, that kind of fear-based clinging leads only to even greater suffering.

In this recorded retreat, based on the program Living Beautifully with Uncertainty and Change held at Omega Institute, Pema Chödrön and her teaching assistant, Meg Wheatley, provide a wealth of wisdom for learning to step right into the river: to be completely, fearlessly present even in the hardest times, the most difficult situations.  It’s the secret of being fully alive. The teachings and practices they present includes:

   • A teaching based on a Native American prophecy for cultivating the ability to take nothing personally
   • A guided meditation for developing patience in the midst of irritation
   • Tips for accessing your innate strength and confidence—simply by altering your posture

Genres: Nonfiction, Spirituality, Buddhism, Self Help, Audiobook, Philosophy

4 pages, Audio CD

First published November 13, 2012

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

[Joe S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pema Chodron takes some of the most profound teachings of Lord Buddha and provides the true essence in a simple & beautiful way. Her compassion for sentient beings is highly apparent in the effortless way she transmits her knowledge of the dharma. Her words are not only calming but leave you feeling lighter and less stressed from any meanial activities to those true challenging moments we as humans must go through. It may not take them away but this lovely book makes those obstacles feel less important leaving you feeling calm and ready to face anything feeling less alone.

[Camia Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are sitting with strong emotions this is a great talk. I learned to call on curiosity and compassion in times of heightened emotions from Pema Chödrön. I am forever grateful for what I am learning about myself.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great workshop led by Pema. I always say this - but it’s worth a listen! / Audible.

[Cynthia Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title on Amazon does not include "a retreat" -- so the book title starting with "Living Beautifully" is the one I'm reading. Love everything she writes and all she stands for so expect another fabulous reading experience. Ah this was wrong title and I can't figure out how to delete so will just add in "read" I have the correct book on currently-reading!

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been through the whole thing twice now. Down to earth and helpful ideas for getting through the divisive times we live in.

[Kelly Fitzpatrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always love listening to Pema. This was a short one but a good one. Lot's of good stuff to digest.

Fav quotes:

“The warrior is gentle to themselves and merciful towards others.”

“The feeling of joy is that whatever is happening right now is the fruition of what’s come before, but it’s the seed of what’s coming next. And how you relate to what’s happening right now becomes the main spiritual path. How you relate to what’s happening right now.”

[Dan Bartlett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable and Pema's humour comes through a lot. But there's a book based on this retreat which I think does a much better job of communicating the message. It's called Living Beautifully with Uncertainty and Change and I gave it 5 stars!

[KLM · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is wonderful to listen to Pema Chodron speaking and laughing and presenting topics that are so important to getting through these times. I could not have listened to a better recording this month.

[ShanTil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pema and Meg were the loveliest companions during my commutes. I laughed, I cried, I got to work through some of my bullshit. Good stuff. I’ll def be listening to similar titles in the future.

[Tina Panik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Patience, and asking the question, “Does it matter?” provide more than enough (welcome) homework from this retreat.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so lovely and so deeply helpful and I’m going to read it again every few months or years so it can really get saturated in my brain/heart

[Sohil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pema Chödrön is wonderful to listen to. Always like her back and forth with the audience in the Q&A section of the retreats.

[Isabella · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5. Really great practices in here I want to go back and revisit. I always love Pema’s lessons.

[Adele · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always beautiful words

[Tommy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another master class in fearlessness from Pema Chodron. I particularly enjoyed the talks/chapters on "Staying in the Middle" (as opposed to clinging to the shore) and "Awakening in the Charnel Ground", a metaphor for staying with our fear by being right there with it, like the charnel grounds in Tibet, where
Sky Burials are a common, horrifying occurrence.

Pema is my favorite dharma teacher. I highly recommend her books and audiobooks.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love

[Denise Holmes]

I have a question, before I want to order, but can't find where to ask. Could the descriptions always include length please, whatever format.

Thanks you
Denise

[Ellery Hamann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This talk changed my life. Not 5 stars, a hundred stars easy.