The Places that Scare You: A Guide to Fearlessness in Difficult Times (Shambhala Classics)

Pema Chodron teaches us here that indeed, we always have a choice: We can let conditions in our lives make us more fearful, anxious and ever more bitter, or we can allow them to diminish and thus make us kinder. The choice truly is our own, whether we always care to admit this or not. Here she provides us with the tools necessary to deal with the challenges we face in our lives, to open our hearts and above else our minds to the suffering of ourselves and ultimately others; tools which helps us move beyond apprehension which is always preventing us from being honest and loving towards one another.
"So beautifully written that the reading is a pleasure-speaks to people of all religious persuasions." - The Los Angeles Times.
This was a brilliant book, I cannot recommend it enough to any of you.

This is a powerful book. A small part of what it does is It presents some Buddhist history and basic philosophy, and several Buddhist practices, in a clear, accessible way. But whether one is interested in Buddhism or not, this book provides a probing but loving look into the causes of why we suffer, and offers concrete techniques to help us practice kindness and compassion, toward ourselves first, and then outward into the world, especially during difficult times. I have already given copies of this book to several friends.

Pema Chodron is an American Buddhist and a student of Trungpa, the Tibetan meditation master: her teachings on choice and courage shine in THE PLACES THAT SCARE YOU: A GUIDE TO FEARLESSNESS IN DIFFICULT TIMES. Here are tools to deal with problems, and methods for unblocking avenues for resolution, provided in chapters which cover everything from cultivating qualities which lend to insight to understanding common enemies of compassion. An excellent survey of faith and meaning based on Buddhist principles.

This book is helping me immensely with my personal struggles. I recommend Pema for everyone.

Pema Chodron is an American Buddhist nun and one of the foremost students of renowned Tibetan meditation master, Chogyam Trungpa. She expresses life's wisdoms with the simplicity of one who understands deeply. Chodron believes that our most painful, most vulnerable experiences are our greatest resources for growing and deepening. She teaches how to use discomfort as an opportunity for awakening, rather than trying to make it disappear. Paradoxically, her method of becoming a fearless warrior is to awaken one's heart and shed the armor around it.

I so enjoy Pema Chodron's writing. She offers lots of "how to" suggestions to face and heal fear. In this book, she has shared her personal fear experiences and clearly brings the reader to the understanding that it is "the fear" that humanity is experiencing not just an individual's fear. We are healing together because we are One .

This book is a comforting book to read at night before bed. It was a bit difficult for me to really take some of the messages to heart because I often got caught up in vocabulary or usages of words. This is likely because I'm just beginning down a spiritual journey and this was the first book I read to aid in this journey. I bought this book based on good reviews and now realize that this will probably suit me better down the line. I would suggest this book for someone who is more practice with meditation. It is easy to follow, and the short chapters make it flow smoothly, but I don't think I was fully able to take the messages seriously yet. Will try again in the future.

I have loved many books but felt compelled to offer my feedback on this one. My yoga instructor has been reading passages at the beginning of class for weeks and, to be honest, with some material I zone out with too much of the Sanskrit language I don't understand. Not this time. I downloaded this morning, read through in two hours and starting over with a clear intention to slow down. Bodhicitta. Changed my life? Who knows? It definitely changed my day today and I'm ok with that.

Was exactly what i was looking for. Her writing is simple and addictive. You keep reading and it's hard to put it down. Not even halfway through I'm thinking of those I want to send it to. Like a great sale you want to tell all your friends about, this is a great book i want everyone to know about.

life directing, everyone should have a copy