From Fear to Fearlessness: Teachings on the Four Great Catalysts of Awakening

by Pema Chödrön

Where will we look when we are afraid? How do we find strength? In what can we place our trust? According to Tibetan Buddhism, the noble aspirations known as "The Four Great Catalysts of Awakening" are waiting to help us cultivate strength and openness in any situation. From Fear to Fearlessness brings you into the company of beloved teacher Pema Chodron to discover these four "immeasurables"-maitri (loving-kindness), compassion, joy, and equanimity. By practicing them, you will begin to experience a supreme steadfastness and peace independent of conditions. Join the bestselling author of When Things Fall Apart to learn: How self-acceptance overcomes the judging mind * Using honesty as a conduit to the parts of ourselves that need kindness and love the most * Maitri: the meditation practice that multiplies love, and more.

Runtime: 2 hours, 30 minutes

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

3 pages, Audio CD

First published September 1, 2003

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

[Jeremy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Big Ideas:

+ The four limitless ones (aka the four great catalysts of awakening, the qualities that help you develop inner strength and trust in the true nature of things) are 1) loving-kindness, 2) compassion, 3) joy, and 4) equanimity.

+ The true nature of things is flux/impermanence: *“The nature of things is to change and fall apart and become something else, and you don’t have to freak out about it.”

+ The avoidance of pain...
- Causes disconnection: “We’re so uncomfortable with discomfort that we just want to get away from it. That’s the definition of Ego, just trying to get away from direct experience. That’s what weakens us, it never adds up to inner strength or unshakable trust, it just makes us more scared and more uptight. And saddest of all, it isolates us and cuts us off from each other, whereas the real healing will only happen from realizing our interconnectedness with each other. This deep desire to get away cuts us off from other people and from our own emotions and thoughts.”
- Causes cruelty: “The cruelty we are capable of is the result of our inability to feel, our inability to reach out of our fear of pain. We become cold and cruel because of our fear of feeling pain. This is not based on a fundamental cruelty but on this soft spot being felt and then shutting down around it very hard.”



Potent Quotables:

*Place the fearful mind in the cradle of loving-kindness.

*We all have a soft spot, an innate ability to love and to care about others. This is the weak link in the solid structure of Ego. It’s like a natural opening in the barriers that we create because we’re so afraid, and that’s the opening that we take.

If you don’t get to know the nature of fear then you’ll never know fearlessness.

[Donna Ancypa Holmes · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most interesting things I've "read" in recent memory - especially good as an audiobook. Pema Chodron manages to present big, essential concepts in a very approachable way without simplifying.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Had a down week. Listened to this on a walk in the woods. A recording of Pema talking during a retreat. Funny, relatable, meditative, perspective shifting. Was just what I needed.

[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.

[Kalmykal · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a nonwhite person who was raised lamaist buddhist, as my ancestors were, there is a layer of emotions that I find my way through to learn from and study white buddhists' teachings. And no, the irony is not lost on me. Still, I have always appreciated Pema Chodron's writing. I had never heard her, though, until now. She sounds very similar to Terry Gross from Fresh Air, so maybe that drew me in even more than the fact that what she is speaking and teaching on is so relevant for me right now. I have long found the most resonance and comfort in the Four Immeasurable truths or thoughts or prayers, and this particular teaching goes into the practice of each thought with much clarity. It also underscores the importance in beginning with oneself, which is particularly difficult for me and something that I aim to continue to work on. And, of course, as a daughter and parent with a full-time job, I found that the length of this was so appreciated. I highly recommend this as something for everyone, no matter if you're interested in or practicing buddhism.

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely spiritual nourishment. I learned a lot of helpful things, including that listening to these types of books in rush hour does not alleviate my road rage. If I could ever overcome my road rage, I think I would also achieve enlightenment, because I am truly my most evil, horrific self when I am driving. I still have a lot of work to do there.

[Russell D · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a candid and easy to grasp explanation of how easy it is to misinterpret the purpose of reaching for enlightenment. Misuse of medication practice occurs when going in with the purpose of transcending my troubles. I am not going to become superhuman but I can develop a better understanding of how I deal with the human condition.

[Brigitte Valentine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an audiobook with meditations, divided into 2 parts, which are a bit repetitive. The meditations are great, the rest of Pema Chödrön teachings here are interesting, but didn’t transcend anything for me, possibly because I was expecting SO much from this audio.

[Mariana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great metta and compassion practice

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those speeches that will take a long time to process. I really enjoyed it, but will need to stew on the contents for awhile before I can provide any deeper insights.

[Alex Lyashok · Rating 5 out of 5]

very good talk. clear and open to anyone.

[Jill Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life Lessons that will stick with you for life.

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was not as engaging as I expected given the recommendation by Seth Godin on the Tim Ferriss podcast. I'm going to try an actual book next vs a seminar recording.

[Cydne B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another audiobook listen as I recuperate.

[MountainAshleah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audio. More focused on guided meditation but the introductory sections were useful. Really relying on Pema's wisdom right now.

[Wright · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Lecture and guided meditation on audio.

[Niki Walters]

A quick refresh ❤

[Kalei · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audiobook. If you've listened to her other meditations, this one seems a bit like a repeat. Not bad but not as original as others

[John Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good short book on our reasons for fear and hope. How we can manage our fears and not cling to hope

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every revisiting of these ideas helps and I actually appreciated the prod to meditate more.

[Nouralita · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great teacher 🙏❤️

[Yodamom · Rating 2 out of 5]

I tried, was it the narrator ? or ? My mind just kept drifting off I couldn't stay focused in this book which is rare for me. This book was not for me

[Jake Teresi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pema's so good

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Basically Pennsylvania. Driving and listening and softening. So that I arrived in New York a new, tender bunny. Pema Pema Pema.

[Courtney Gribble]

I actually did the audio book for this and WOW. I have a lot of work to do. I am enlightened by what I could not figure out on my own about myself. Thank you Pema

[Isabella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great listen. It is about transforming our fears around certain people and relationships, which is not what I expected, but I always grow listening to Pema Chodron. I will never not enjoy her work.

[Lenny Husen · Rating 3 out of 5]

These are audio CDs, very New Agey and Self-Absorbed.
This just wasn't for me. I didn't mind it, but there weren't enough stories. I enjoy stories of how real people deal with tragedy, stress, burnout, angst, and how they use the healing practices to overcome adversity. I learn by hearing examples with which I can empathize.

This is for folks to listen to as a Meditation Guide and I didn't realize that when I bought it. I thought it was lectures about Buddhism or Mindfulness.

If I listened to too many tracks in one day, I found myself being a bit bored and bemused.

On the plus side: I listened to it going to and from work, and I found that if I just listened to ONE TRACK AT A TIME, for example, 5 or 10 minutes on Loving Kindness or Compassion, I would be in a better frame of mind to achieve my goals at work with my patients.

And she did help me to understand the mechanism of cruelty and why some people aren't there for others in crisis, why people let each other down, ignore, neglect, abuse, use others that they profess to love.

These lectures led me to this truth:

Wisdom is simply not taking the shortcomings of others personally.

[Happyreader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect pre-work commute listening to put me in the mood to be more compassionate with my patients and co-workers. Focused on the four catalysts of maitri, compassion, joy and equanimity, I found her instructions on dealing with difficult interactions, such as her advice to the audience member who couldn't forgive her "pathetic" brother, both practical and profound. I especially enjoyed the concluding lessons on being mindful of when your attractions and aversions become solid and using compassion, joy and maitri as melting antedotes.

[Siri · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a like, not a love of a book. It is brought to the reader from the Buddhist perspective. I actually listened to the book on audio and fell in love with the warmth and compassion that comes through from the author's calm voice laced with humor and oozing love. It was a quick listen at only 2 hours or so and worth the investment but not something to run out and buy. A soft filler book.

[AmyLyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this somewhat introductory session of meditation. Chodron's voice is surprisingly soothing (I listened to the audio) and I have found myself using these techniques when stuck in traffic, lines at the grocery store, and other potentially unpleasant circumstances. I find them relaxing and soothing and a wonderful way to find peace and increase goodwill toward others.