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The Wisdom of No Escape And the Path of Loving Kindness
110 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2001
33 people are currently reading
162 people want to read
About the author
Pema Chödrön
200 books5,510 followersAni 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 4, 2025
This book is essential. It saved my life in my twenties… and might be doing so again. Good one to go back to and be reminded, every now and then, of mental strategies to navigate impermanence and letting go.
March 21, 2024
My favorite book on buddhist meditation and philosophy after Joseph Goldstein's The Experience of Insight (1976). I haven't read through the Wisdom of No Escape in almost thirty years, but I found it to be a great aid in my current need to find a remedy for continued anxiety touched with depression. Pema Chodron's gift for distilling the core teachings of buddhist practice regardless of the trappings of tradition comes through on every page of this meditation retreat in book form.
November 9, 2023
A Journey to Inner Freedom - Review of "The Wisdom of No Escape" by Pema Chödrön
"The Wisdom of No Escape" by Pema Chödrön is a timeless guide to finding inner peace and freedom through the practice of mindfulness and meditation. Chödrön, a renowned Buddhist teacher, offers profound insights and practical wisdom for those seeking to navigate the complexities of modern life with grace and resilience.
The book is divided into concise, yet powerful chapters, making it accessible for both beginners and seasoned practitioners of mindfulness. Chödrön's writing style is clear, compassionate, and filled with gentle humor, making the teachings easily digestible.
At its core, "The Wisdom of No Escape" emphasizes the importance of embracing life's uncertainties and difficulties rather than running from them. Chödrön encourages readers to sit with their discomfort, fear, and vulnerability, as these are the very experiences that can lead to profound personal growth and transformation.
One of the key takeaways from the book is the concept of "no escape" - the idea that true liberation comes not from avoiding challenges but from fully engaging with them. Chödrön provides practical meditation techniques and mindfulness practices to help readers cultivate self-awareness and develop the ability to be present in the face of life's ups and downs.
Throughout the book, Chödrön shares her own personal struggles and moments of self-doubt, making her teachings relatable and reassuring. She illustrates that no one is exempt from difficulties, and it's our response to these challenges that defines our spiritual journey.
"The Wisdom of No Escape" is a powerful reminder that true happiness and peace are not dependent on external circumstances but are qualities that can be cultivated from within. Chödrön's teachings inspire readers to embrace the present moment, embrace their imperfections, and find the courage to live with an open heart.
In conclusion, "The Wisdom of No Escape" is a gem of a book that offers invaluable guidance for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of themselves and a path to inner freedom. Pema Chödrön's wisdom and compassionate teachings have the potential to transform lives, making this book a must-read for those on a spiritual journey of self-discovery and mindfulness.
"The Wisdom of No Escape" by Pema Chödrön is a timeless guide to finding inner peace and freedom through the practice of mindfulness and meditation. Chödrön, a renowned Buddhist teacher, offers profound insights and practical wisdom for those seeking to navigate the complexities of modern life with grace and resilience.
The book is divided into concise, yet powerful chapters, making it accessible for both beginners and seasoned practitioners of mindfulness. Chödrön's writing style is clear, compassionate, and filled with gentle humor, making the teachings easily digestible.
At its core, "The Wisdom of No Escape" emphasizes the importance of embracing life's uncertainties and difficulties rather than running from them. Chödrön encourages readers to sit with their discomfort, fear, and vulnerability, as these are the very experiences that can lead to profound personal growth and transformation.
One of the key takeaways from the book is the concept of "no escape" - the idea that true liberation comes not from avoiding challenges but from fully engaging with them. Chödrön provides practical meditation techniques and mindfulness practices to help readers cultivate self-awareness and develop the ability to be present in the face of life's ups and downs.
Throughout the book, Chödrön shares her own personal struggles and moments of self-doubt, making her teachings relatable and reassuring. She illustrates that no one is exempt from difficulties, and it's our response to these challenges that defines our spiritual journey.
"The Wisdom of No Escape" is a powerful reminder that true happiness and peace are not dependent on external circumstances but are qualities that can be cultivated from within. Chödrön's teachings inspire readers to embrace the present moment, embrace their imperfections, and find the courage to live with an open heart.
In conclusion, "The Wisdom of No Escape" is a gem of a book that offers invaluable guidance for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of themselves and a path to inner freedom. Pema Chödrön's wisdom and compassionate teachings have the potential to transform lives, making this book a must-read for those on a spiritual journey of self-discovery and mindfulness.
December 15, 2025
I was perusing at the bookstore and stumbled upon the quote “…we must realize that we can endure a lot of pain and pleasure for the sake of finding out who we are and what this world is…” on the first page of this book. My life right now feels characterized by reflecting on the purpose of suffering in myself and those I love. I feel a lot of resentment towards this to be honest and all I want to do is brute force change my circumstances or at least my response to them.
The overarching lesson I took from these teachings is about how any wisdom that exists, exists in what I already have. “Our neurosis and our wisdom are made out of the same material” is a quote I found to be really supportive of this cause lately it’s felt like I need something I don’t already have.
Chodron leaves the reader with a focus on the bardo - the in-between. Technically between death and the next life, but it feels like this idea applies to much more. I reflect on how so much of my life right now feels like an unstable balance between suffering and acceptance, presence and dissociation, connectedness and isolation. I struggle to find a feeling of home in it all but also believe that my willingness to exist in the bardo will come with needed acceptance when I’m ready.
The overarching lesson I took from these teachings is about how any wisdom that exists, exists in what I already have. “Our neurosis and our wisdom are made out of the same material” is a quote I found to be really supportive of this cause lately it’s felt like I need something I don’t already have.
Chodron leaves the reader with a focus on the bardo - the in-between. Technically between death and the next life, but it feels like this idea applies to much more. I reflect on how so much of my life right now feels like an unstable balance between suffering and acceptance, presence and dissociation, connectedness and isolation. I struggle to find a feeling of home in it all but also believe that my willingness to exist in the bardo will come with needed acceptance when I’m ready.
December 20, 2024
”The everyday practice is simply to develop a complete acceptance and openness to all situations and emotions and all people… experiencing everything totally without reservations or blockages, so that one never withdraws or centralizes into onself.”
This is a mighty little book, great to savor a chapter at a time. I appreciate how lucidly Pema shares helpful teachings. I will be mulling over her words for some time and returning to them as needed.
This is a mighty little book, great to savor a chapter at a time. I appreciate how lucidly Pema shares helpful teachings. I will be mulling over her words for some time and returning to them as needed.
February 13, 2026
Picked this up on purpose as part of my current “read more practical Buddhism and try to actually absorb it” phase and it was exactly what I wanted. Super grounded, very usable, and refreshingly not preachy. Basically a reminder to stop trying to outrun discomfort and just learn how to sit in it like a functional adult. Highlighted a borderline irresponsible amount and really hope some of it sticks.
May 3, 2025
A waste of time.
I was initially excited to read it, it started a bit boring, I had a strong feeling it would pick up. However, disappointingly it got more boring with a lot of repetitions. I was avoiding picking it up. What I thought would be a quick read turned into a book I wasn’t able to force myself to finish. I had to out it down two thirds in, and move on.
I was initially excited to read it, it started a bit boring, I had a strong feeling it would pick up. However, disappointingly it got more boring with a lot of repetitions. I was avoiding picking it up. What I thought would be a quick read turned into a book I wasn’t able to force myself to finish. I had to out it down two thirds in, and move on.
October 20, 2024
A great entry into the collective wisdom of modern Buddhist thought and practice, and a perfect book to read a few pages of every morning to start the day. But not a fifth star, because I didn't find anything overly unique or different from other books covering the same ground.
November 23, 2024
OOF this was so so good and I know I’ll reread a lot shoutout to my group counseling prof for the rec
December 18, 2024
Quick and deep read. From meditation to karma, samsara and more. These reminders came at a great time for me to reflect on my current outlook on life and life events.
January 30, 2025
Beautiful! Will reread in the coming months!
June 23, 2025
i wanted to understand the concept maitri / loving kindness. pema chodron’s words are filled with insight and wisdom
June 25, 2025
All time top 5. One to keep and revisit over and over.
October 6, 2025
Just what I needed. Per the usual, warmed my heart!
October 12, 2023
Every sentence was insightful and provided an immense amount of clarity. This book has genuinely changed my life.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews