Bodhisattva Mind: Teachings to Cultivate Courage and Awareness in the Midst of Suffering

by Pema Chödrön

A bodhisattva is one who seeks liberation from suffering not only for themselves, but for all beings. If you were a bodhisattva, how would you respond in the face of chaos and difficulty? Is it possible to find calm in the middle of a storm?

On Bodhisattva Mind, Pema Chödrön explores timeless insights and practices from the teachings of an eighth-century Buddhist classic, Shantideva's The Way of the Bodhisattva, to reveal a powerful core truth that can move us all closer to the bodhisattva ideal.

An Unlikely Voice on Living a Virtuous Life

In the eyes of his fellow Indian scholars, Shantideva seemed lazy and uninterested in his studies and was greatly resented. So they invited the young slacker to give a prestigious talk―an honor reserved for only the most realized Buddhist masters―hoping to humiliate him and force him to leave the school. Instead, he delivered the timeless jewel known today as The Way of the Bodhisattva.

Paradoxically, the key to true liberation, he taught, is in taming the mind. Like a wild elephant, the distracted mind causes emotions to escalate. But if the mind is trained to be steady and open, no matter what comes at you, you will remain solid in the immediacy of your experience.

On Bodhisattva Mind, Pema Chödrön leads you through an all-new series of practices inspired by Shantideva to help you "tether" your thoughts and emotions―not as a limiting force, but as a means to restore yourself in the freedom of the present moment.

Experience the Spaciousness Available in Every Moment

If we approach the wildness of our mind like a horse whisperer using gentleness, compassion, and kindness, we return to our natural state of expansiveness that is always available to us, says Pema Chödrön. Encompassing a rich span of insights from this gifted teacher, Bodhisattva Mind shows us how to connect with the spacious, clear, and unbiased nature of our minds, and experience the joy of complete freedom.

Master recordings for Bodhisattva Mind graciously provided by Great Path Tapes.

Runtime: 8 hours, 7 minutes.

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

9 pages, Audio CD

First published October 1, 2006

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

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

So far, Pema Chodron can do no wrong. I am finding her workshops very useful and thought provoking. Each is slightly different from the other, yet reinforce each other in useful ways. I am just picking what's available and moving from one to the other, so I appreciate that these ideas feel so seamless. In this, she has members of the workshop read ancient teachings, and she humorously helps us update some of the admonitions, with reminders about how some translations can emphasize aspects that are not always helpful and that can alienate us from important ideas.

[Loretta · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always find gems in Pema's books. I started with reading them, years ago, but I am coming to really appreciate the audio books. This, like Noble Heart, isn't really a "book" - it's talks from a retreat, including Q and As. The warmth and wisdom comes through so clearly, as does the sense of a real person who has really struggled with all of these issues. I will come back to this one again, and again, I am sure.

[Kelly Fitzpatrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another amazing lecture by Pema. I wasn't sure what to expect and I didn't like it as much as Unconditional Confidence: Instructions for Meeting Any Experience with Trust and Courage, but apparently I'm addicted to her and her teachings. I love how candid and funny she is. She's not what you'd think a buddhist monk would be by any means. She's real and not some robotic unattainable saint of a person that you can't relate to at all. I really enjoyed the Q and A sessions and that's where I felt I learned the most.

[Ekta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blew my mind! Helped me deepen my meditation practice and go deeper into texts. Highly recommend this! It's so easy to read. I have also listening to it on Audible. I prefer the Audible version, but both are great!

[Robin Tobin (On the back porch reading) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pema always delivers talks which nourish my soul. This audio book was no exception.

[Michael Kilman · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of her best

[William Bookman III · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whatever she does is always good. So relatable and easy to digest and understand. A very wise friend.

[John Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book on real ways to develop a bodhisattva mind. Very easy to read.

[Phantom_fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Text I will revisit.

[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.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the audio book. First I've read/heard Pema Chodron, and I will definitely want to read some more of her work.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pema Chodron was asked to come out of her own retreat to offer a weekend retreat to a group at the Naropa Institute in Boulder, Colorado. Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, founder of Naropa, was one of her teachers, so of course she wasn’t going to refuse this request. Pema’s teachings over that weekend were recorded in front of the live audience and produced in audiobook format for everyone to enjoy. Pema had an assistant with her who read passages, and then she defined and explained each passage in an applicable manner. A few times throughout the audiobook there were question and answer portions between Pema and the audience.

Pema taught the Bodhisattva Mind: Teachings to Cultivate Courage and Awareness in the Midst of Suffering. I love that Buddhist teachings are extremely relatable to my daily life. To apply them is to do so with kindness and compassion towards self. Listening to these teachings can be repetitive for me, which I need, and provide me with new wisdom to apply. Immediately, Pema encouraged her students to view the world as wishing others could be as fortunate as I am. My takeaway is to be grateful for all of the blessings in my life and wish that others have many blessings in their lives too. Such a great way to support others in their endeavors.

I work in a stressful environment and I never know what difficulties I am going to experience in any given work day. Pema told a funny story about a conversation between Roshi Joan Halifax and a chef. The moral of it stuck with me: If you want a calm kitchen, calm your mind. I appreciate the perspective that my mind causes the suffering I experience at work; it’s not the external conditions. I know everyday when I walk into my place of employment that stressors will arise from a variety of sources. It’s up to me to calm my mind as I navigate each experience.

Pema initially spoke a lot on how to practice mindfulness meditation and the benefits. I have been meditating for a few years now, so this portion of the audiobook was helpfully repetitive. I am grateful for the reminder...

I have photos and additional information that I'm unable to include here. It can all be found on my blog, in the link below.
A Book And A Dog

[Jeremy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a recorded teaching on chapter 5 of the Shantideva. I have always loved the saying, “Instead of trying to cover the earth with leather, put on some sandals.” Or put another way, “Where could I find enough leather to cover the whole earth? But I can always find enough to cover my own two feet and thereby travel safely.” This is such a great metaphor for working with the mind and an important reminder for me that happiness really is between the ears.

I learned something from this that I had not yet encountered about mindfulness practice: you can change the target of your attention depending on what your needs are. If you need a “tight” practice, you can focus narrowly, on a point on your upper lip where you feel the breath, for example. For “loose” practice, you could focus more broadly on sensory experiences, such as everything that falls within range of your hearing, then your tasting, then your seeing, then your feeling.

There is also good teaching here on the interconnectedness of human beings. Self-improvement benefits those around you and is therefore a noble undertaking. The focus, though, is on being with people in a way that helps them grow. It reminds me of the saying attributed to St. Francis of Assisi, “Preach the gospel always, use words if necessary.” Or as Maya Angelou said, “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

Other lessons: Pouring kerosene on a fire is not a great way to put it out. Be gentle with yourself.

[Levi Pierpont · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a live discussion session that Chodron gave back in 2007 or so, but I’m counting it as a book because I checked it out on my Hoopla library app, and it was 8 hours long. I found the teachings incredibly practical and actionable, and her humor was so appreciated. Each of her little chuckles accentuated the lightheartedness of the teaching. Here are some of the things she spoke of that impacted me.

1. Remaining like a log, in all things. Always moving in the direction of de-escalation.
2. Cultivating joy in the joy of others, first for those it is easy to love, moving toward folks we don’t even really know, and then, of course, like tonglen, moving toward being happy in the happiness of others, even those who we may count as enemies, or people who frustrate us.
3. Not separating ourselves. In the path of the Bodhisattva, in Chodron’s interpretation, there is little room for going off, alone, and meditating singularly. She highlights the necessity and value of practicing these teachings in the context of community.

All in all, if you have the Hoopla app, I highly recommend borrowing this one and giving it a listen. It’s incredibly approachable, too, even if you haven’t read Buddhist teaching in the past.

[Nil Eren · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this audiobook, Pema Chödron is teaching Shantideva’s Bodhisattvacharyavatara at DeVry University in Boulder, Colorado. She is commenting on all hundred and nine verses in chapter five, called Guarding Alertness. The subject of the chapter is how to work with our minds. Shantideva explains the importance of mindfulness and how to be alert to keep the wild elephant of our untamed mind in control in this chapter.
I found the teachings very relevant to modern times, even though they were originally intended for monks in the 8th century. I have gained tremendous insights from Pema Chödron's engaging and humorous approach to explaining the verses. I listened to these chapters while commuting from work to home and back. Because of that, I need to listen to the chapters a few more times and take notes until I understand everything in detail. Pema Chödrön emphasizes the importance of being alert and carefully assessing ourselves, studying dharma with the intention of taming our own mind as a Bodhisattva. This captivating audiobook is meant to be source of information, promising to unveil fresh discoveries with each listen.

[Regina Mastrogiacomo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a provoking book that teaches how to deal with suffering and how to try and overcome anger, selfishness and jealousy, but it's not easy. In fact, it's an on going process that we continue to improve upon in each lifetime.
I found the tape fun to listen to and funny at time, but the explanation about how to try and achieve selflessness, open-heartedness and peace is understandable but are full of traps that we all find ourselves in but can learn from and grow from through mindfulness of action.
I am planning on listening to this audiobook again and I am looking forward to what I will learn from this time.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pema writes two books in many forms. One is about the basics of meditation, lojong, and tonglen and how those ideas can be used in daily life. The other is about Shantideva and his monumental work, The Way of the Bodhisattva: A Translation of the Bodhicharyavatara and how those ideas can be used in daily life. She's written dozens of books at this point if you include her lectures and yet they always end up being one or the other. Both are good, but this one falls into the latter category.

[ebhojawa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pema Chodron does an incredible job making the teachings of Shantideva relevant to our times. This is a very dense experience full of insights that are shared with ease and with anecdotes. Personally this is a “read” i will be listening to again and again. Pema is a wonderful teacher - i felt like i was in direct conversation with her in the room. I laughed out loud a couple of times while listening to this.... a lighthearted listen with scores of depth and insight throughout.

[Krista · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not so much a “book” as listening to a Buddhist retreat but so much wisdom. Pema is so calming to listen to, her voice and guidance is so therapeutic. She later in the retreat describes this one as having the theme of “thinking bigger and going beyond self absorption.” To fully awaken so you can be there for others, to free yourself by taming your mind. She discussed these concepts in such a down to earth humorous way, it is so easy to relate to her.

[Jo-ann Albano · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this audiobook. I read this before the coronavirus hit and feel like the information really helped increase my coping skills. I love Pema's approach to getting us to understand compassion and the Bodhisattva mind. I would highly recommend this reading - especially now if you are suffering with the topics of stay at home, fear of the virus, etc.

[Linus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent workshop around Shantideva´s "The Way of the Bodhisattva", placing this classical Mahayana work in a modern context, clearly outlining how to live a Bodhisattva´s life in the 21st century. Hightly recommended to anyone interested in Mahayana Buddhism!

[Charles Reed · Rating 3 out of 5]

67%

I read the audiobook so I got more of this than most people, however it is a thing where if you experienced and understood this thing it's just a nice to read book instead of a book that really gives you a beneficial place of mind when you're already there

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interestingly I feel like even though I have read some of the stories before I hope the repetition and relevance helps me to actually pay attention and k have noticed when I read more Buddhist works I pay more attention in daily life.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good Pema book. She made a difficult text come alive. Her sense of humor is delightful. Is a good reference for the Bodhisattva in training.

[Mckinley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sounds True recording.

[Translator Monkey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent audio program for anyone interested in Mahayana teachings, in particular the Bodhisattva concept. One I'll revisit frequently.

[Penny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great audio retreat from Pema looking at Shantidevas teaching on the path of the Bodhisattva.

[Stacey Slager · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need to listen to this again. This program has such rich content.

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m looking forward to learning more from Pema. Her practical insight and her humor are a lighthouse for the wild mind.

[Marko Z · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was NICE af