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Awakening Dignity: A Guide to Living a Life of Deep Fulfillment
A Buddhist master’s guide to cultivating dignity through meditation to live a meaningful and fulfilling life.
The notion of dignity is crucial to the question of how best to live a meaningful and fulfilling life, particularly for today’s environment in which so many of us experience self-doubt, low self-esteem, and feelings of being trapped by anxiety, dissatisfaction, or even success. How, in such a circumstance, can we gain authentic and unshakeable dignity? In Awakening Dignity, Phakchok Rinpoche draws from the Tibetan Buddhist wisdom tradition to offer a unique and fresh approach to answer this question.
From the Buddhist perspective, dignity is an inherent quality of fundamental wholeness and completeness that we all naturally possess: our true nature is pure and our heart is noble. In this guide, Phakchok Rinpoche shows how knowing that we are whole and complete already—and gaining trust and certainty in that understanding—can counteract the common feeling that we are not enough, that something is missing.
Gaining unwavering trust in ourselves protects us from life’s ups and downs. With genuine dignity, we are not riddled with uncertainty, anxiety, or self-doubt. Rather, we are able to face any circumstance with confidence, clarity, and compassion. Through reflections, examples, and simple meditations—such as embracing adversity and practicing compassion—Awakening Dignity provides all the tools necessary to fully embody our fundamental dignity.
The notion of dignity is crucial to the question of how best to live a meaningful and fulfilling life, particularly for today’s environment in which so many of us experience self-doubt, low self-esteem, and feelings of being trapped by anxiety, dissatisfaction, or even success. How, in such a circumstance, can we gain authentic and unshakeable dignity? In Awakening Dignity, Phakchok Rinpoche draws from the Tibetan Buddhist wisdom tradition to offer a unique and fresh approach to answer this question.
From the Buddhist perspective, dignity is an inherent quality of fundamental wholeness and completeness that we all naturally possess: our true nature is pure and our heart is noble. In this guide, Phakchok Rinpoche shows how knowing that we are whole and complete already—and gaining trust and certainty in that understanding—can counteract the common feeling that we are not enough, that something is missing.
Gaining unwavering trust in ourselves protects us from life’s ups and downs. With genuine dignity, we are not riddled with uncertainty, anxiety, or self-doubt. Rather, we are able to face any circumstance with confidence, clarity, and compassion. Through reflections, examples, and simple meditations—such as embracing adversity and practicing compassion—Awakening Dignity provides all the tools necessary to fully embody our fundamental dignity.
240 pages, Paperback
Published December 20, 2022
31 people are currently reading
1641 people want to read
About the author
Phakchok Rinpoche
12 books22 followersPhakchok Rinpoche is a premier example of a new generation of Tibetan Buddhist masters. He combines the most profound aspects of traditional wisdom teachings with his pithy, humorous observations of their ongoing relevance to the incredibly fast pace of modern urban life.
Born in 1981 to a family recognized for their generations of spiritual accomplishment, Rinpoche was recognized as the seventh Phakchok Rinpoche and incarnation of a great teacher and meditation master. Receiving ordination from His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Rinpoche received a thorough education and training in Buddhist philosophy and meditation, studying with some of the most accomplished masters of modern times, his main teachers being his grandfather Kyabje Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche and Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche.
Rinpoche completed his education at the Dzongsar Institute of Advanced Buddhist Studies in Bir, India, where he received the Khenpo title. He is able to playfully combine the scholarly tradition of his studies with the experiential tradition of his main teachers in order to give his students the necessary tools to discover the wisdom and compassion that lies beneath our habitual ways of seeing ourselves and the world around us.
Now, Rinpoche travels the world, teaching in Buddhist centers, universities, and monasteries from Asia to the United States, from South America to Europe.
more information about Rinpoche's teachings can be found at samyeinstitute.org
Born in 1981 to a family recognized for their generations of spiritual accomplishment, Rinpoche was recognized as the seventh Phakchok Rinpoche and incarnation of a great teacher and meditation master. Receiving ordination from His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Rinpoche received a thorough education and training in Buddhist philosophy and meditation, studying with some of the most accomplished masters of modern times, his main teachers being his grandfather Kyabje Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche and Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche.
Rinpoche completed his education at the Dzongsar Institute of Advanced Buddhist Studies in Bir, India, where he received the Khenpo title. He is able to playfully combine the scholarly tradition of his studies with the experiential tradition of his main teachers in order to give his students the necessary tools to discover the wisdom and compassion that lies beneath our habitual ways of seeing ourselves and the world around us.
Now, Rinpoche travels the world, teaching in Buddhist centers, universities, and monasteries from Asia to the United States, from South America to Europe.
more information about Rinpoche's teachings can be found at samyeinstitute.org
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 4, 2023
I absolutely love this book. In it, Sophie Wu and Phakchok Rinpoche have done a superb job curating and distilling countless key points from Rinpoche's teachings over the past half-decade or so. The authors do an excellent job making traditional Buddhist concepts accessible to all readers without alienating long-term practitioners or dumbing any material down. As made clear by the title, the book emphasizes the discovery, recognition, and cultivation of inner dignity. As an example, in chapter 11 (my favorite chapter btw), the authors expand on the commonly known (at least in Buddhist circles) pairing of Wisdom and Compassion. Generally, wisdom and compassion are regarded as the two wings of a bird. Without both in balance, our practice or understanding may go astray. But in chapter 11, the authors remind us of the third essential quality: Dignity. It's dignity that provides the power for the two other wings to flap. Without dignity, our practice will never even get off the ground. Long-term practitioners will also appreciate the connection the authors make in this chapter between these three fundamental qualities (wisdom, compassion, and dignity) and their three corresponding iconographic representations: Manjushri, Avalokiteshvara, and Vajrapani. The authors have accomplished the remarkable feat of presenting the essence in simple jargon-free language while simultaneously providing the context for more experienced practitioners to deepen their understanding.
The inspirational quotes at the head and tail of each chapter as well as the exercises provided within are other highlights of the book.
Full disclosure: I am also the narrator of the audiobook version.
The inspirational quotes at the head and tail of each chapter as well as the exercises provided within are other highlights of the book.
Full disclosure: I am also the narrator of the audiobook version.
January 4, 2023
Awakening Dignity by Phakchok Rinpoche and Sophie Wu (Shambhala Publications, 2022) is an extraordinary book that offers us an approach to understanding our true nature. The teachings in the book encourage us to understand that "our nature is pure", that we already have dignity and need only to learn how to recognize and transform our habitual emotional patterns, and to become confident in our dignity. We can learn to actively cultivate dignity, become more aware of our habits and obstacles, and gain confidence in ourselves. The book offers helpful dignity training exercises and encourages us to develop and stabilize qualities such as compassion and wisdom for ourselves and for others. One of my favorite parts of the book is the explanation about the relationship between body and mind in meditation: "Body on the cushion. Mind in the body. Mind at rest."
Another concept that is very beneficial is "sticky mind" and learning to become aware of our negative emotions, fixations, and habitual patterns-the places where our mind sticks. There are helpful exercises using the breath, looking at the mind, non-judgment and loving-kindness as antidotes to sticky mind. As a health care practitioner, and End-of-Life Doula I have found the book Awakening Dignity to be a good resource and powerful tool to help guide us through living, and through dying
Another concept that is very beneficial is "sticky mind" and learning to become aware of our negative emotions, fixations, and habitual patterns-the places where our mind sticks. There are helpful exercises using the breath, looking at the mind, non-judgment and loving-kindness as antidotes to sticky mind. As a health care practitioner, and End-of-Life Doula I have found the book Awakening Dignity to be a good resource and powerful tool to help guide us through living, and through dying
January 4, 2023
Awakening Dignity, by Phakchok Rinpoche and Sophie Wu, is an amazing book that each of us would benefit from reading.
Based on authentic and traditional teachings, the text focuses on two essential Buddhist concepts: 1) the nature of our mind, and 2) practices for realizing this nature of mind. The nature of mind is beyond both religion and concepts; therefore, this is not a Buddhist book per se, but a practical guide to truly realize our own nature, which is the key to living a meaningful life.
By offering his own experiences as examples, Phakchok Rinpoche shows us that it is possible, through practice, to change. This approach is highly inspirational, motivating us to transform ourselves like Rinpoche has.
The book uses a direct style to help us understand the core teachings, including how to cultivate dignity in both formal meditation sessions and in our daily interactions. It is well written and structured in a gradual and progressive manner so that it is easily understandable for non-Buddhists while being, I believe, also extremely relevant for advanced students.
In the introduction, Sophie Wu mentioned that she “wishes these teachings had been available” earlier in her life. As I am reading this book, I feel the same and encourage everyone to read it, now that it is available to us.
Based on authentic and traditional teachings, the text focuses on two essential Buddhist concepts: 1) the nature of our mind, and 2) practices for realizing this nature of mind. The nature of mind is beyond both religion and concepts; therefore, this is not a Buddhist book per se, but a practical guide to truly realize our own nature, which is the key to living a meaningful life.
By offering his own experiences as examples, Phakchok Rinpoche shows us that it is possible, through practice, to change. This approach is highly inspirational, motivating us to transform ourselves like Rinpoche has.
The book uses a direct style to help us understand the core teachings, including how to cultivate dignity in both formal meditation sessions and in our daily interactions. It is well written and structured in a gradual and progressive manner so that it is easily understandable for non-Buddhists while being, I believe, also extremely relevant for advanced students.
In the introduction, Sophie Wu mentioned that she “wishes these teachings had been available” earlier in her life. As I am reading this book, I feel the same and encourage everyone to read it, now that it is available to us.
January 5, 2023
I absolutely loved Awakening Dignity.
The authors begin by asking "Why is the joy inside us so hard to maintain? Why are we so easily lured by self-doubt, inadequacy, fear? Why do we feel so incomplete? What is the cause of this kind of suffering and what, if anything, can we do about it?” The book then shows us what we can do about it. It’s filled with heart-felt stories and sensible, accessible exercises that elucidate how to deal with our pervasive negative emotions and awaken our innate dignity.
The advice in this book comes at a critical point in our troubled world, especially for our children who are suffering from increased levels of depression and suicide. This book offers an antidote that we can share with our children. One example - The authors state "It may seem ironic, but our own happiness comes from focusing on the welfare of others, not ourselves”
I work with inner-city schools, training middle and high school students to tutor/mentor early elementary students. Their teachers say that this is a life-changing event for many of their students - rather than spending time on social media comparing themselves to “perfect” people, students see their innate dignity reflected in the gratitude of those they are helping
The authors begin by asking "Why is the joy inside us so hard to maintain? Why are we so easily lured by self-doubt, inadequacy, fear? Why do we feel so incomplete? What is the cause of this kind of suffering and what, if anything, can we do about it?” The book then shows us what we can do about it. It’s filled with heart-felt stories and sensible, accessible exercises that elucidate how to deal with our pervasive negative emotions and awaken our innate dignity.
The advice in this book comes at a critical point in our troubled world, especially for our children who are suffering from increased levels of depression and suicide. This book offers an antidote that we can share with our children. One example - The authors state "It may seem ironic, but our own happiness comes from focusing on the welfare of others, not ourselves”
I work with inner-city schools, training middle and high school students to tutor/mentor early elementary students. Their teachers say that this is a life-changing event for many of their students - rather than spending time on social media comparing themselves to “perfect” people, students see their innate dignity reflected in the gratitude of those they are helping
March 6, 2024
"To function in life, we need less judging and more noticing. Noticing is neutral awareness without the baggage of emotion; with noticing, we see calmly and clearly without distorting what we observe. Judging, on the other hand, is a spark that often ignites the fire of negative emotion and action." This was a nice refresher for me - lots of back to basics for meditating on living a life full of compassion and purpose. I enjoyed Phakchok Rinpoche's personal stories and straightforward approach to practice.
November 22, 2024
Phakchok Rinpoche's explanation about dignity has changed my life. He has provided me with a complete tool kit to manage life and all its turmoils with serenity, humor and kindness. This book is a complete guide to get to know yourself, love yourself, be okay with whatever, and also start looking at other people in a different, loving way, no matter what. If you have ever felt like a misfit, or not enough, or just confused about life, this is the book for you. But also, if you are okay and have a nice life, this book is also for you because it helps you to open your mind and be more flexible.
January 5, 2023
One does not need to be a Buddhist or interested in Buddhism to benefit from this book by a well known Buddhist teacher. The language used is clear and simple, devoid of specialized terms. The examples used to illustrate different points are personal and relatable. But don’t let the easy read fool you. Profound truths underlie the explanations and training exercises offered. Take a chance and maybe you will learn something about yourself.
December 7, 2022
Not self-help but certainly filled with wisdom and helpful perspectives, this is a book that will help a wide range of readers seeking a non-Western approach to feeling whole and more grounded. Recommended.
Thanks very much for the free ARC for review!!
Thanks very much for the free ARC for review!!
November 1, 2023
Probably the most impactful book I've read this year
November 22, 2024
Beautiful book to get new perspectives on your daily life and how to approach things differently. A truly eye opener and fun to read..
December 9, 2024
Easy to read and understand, even for non Buddhist.
Highly recommended!
Highly recommended!
April 7, 2023
Life changing book on Buddha Nature
Rinpoche's language is so direct, practical and down to earth. He knows his audience so well, that's why he is able to fulfill his aspirations of helping sentient beings so effectively. He does not leave any topic or questions unanswered. It's one of the best books I have read on Buddha Nature so far. Homage to the Teacher 🙏
Rinpoche's language is so direct, practical and down to earth. He knows his audience so well, that's why he is able to fulfill his aspirations of helping sentient beings so effectively. He does not leave any topic or questions unanswered. It's one of the best books I have read on Buddha Nature so far. Homage to the Teacher 🙏
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews