In a nutshell, if you don't want to bring awareness to the places in yourself you avoid and would rather not deal with awakening, do not listen to or read this book.

If you are interested in a brilliantly written perspective on compassionate spiritual awakening, then by all means get it and listen or read it over and over. We are so blessed to live in a time where we have teachers like Pema Chodron to give us instruction on how to bring awareness to our habitual thinking that keep us stuck. Yes, it can be frightening to look within with such scrutiny, but Pema reminds us that we can intend to begin our inquiry from a compassionate and accepting place.Self condemnation for what we find in ourselves is a trap and another mental agonizer.

I have seemed to be addicted to drama and unhappiness all my life.
I have been on a spiritual and personal growth path for 20 years.
The longer I live the more I realize that my own thinking keeps driving me to dead ends of pain and suffering. I am at a point where the only thing left to do is surrender my mind as best as I can. Thankfully, I have teachers like Pema to light the way a bit for me.

There is something repellant, even repulsive, about the religious mind. We cannot escape the world, however much we dislike it: it is a violent, often ugly place, dominated by the stupid; and however far we flee from it, these unpleasantries inevitably find us out, we cannot run far enough or fast enough. Show me your attachment to the beautiful and the good, indeed, show me your love of peace, and I will show you beauty adulterated and good compromised; and I will expose your peace as a forgery that hides your hatred of life. The religious mind, when it perceives this contradictory and chaotic quality of existence, sees in it an opportunity to perform a trick of ethical magic. If one is good, if one is clarified, if one is just in every action, if one will only turn the other cheek, behold, nothing will ever die, pain will cease, and the horrible will be rectified. Alas, good friends, the truth is quite otherwise: he who turns his cheek is beaten and crucified. And he who cries for justice, will weep in earnest by way of reckoning.

It is the weak who fear the strong; it is the good who inspire in others evil. In this world one either eats or is eaten, and no amount of sympathy, pity, or compassion will adulterate the predatory core of being itself. And books like this are authored by charlatains, who try to take away your fear by denying the necessity for it.

I give you two instances of this religious magic: Ms. Chodron informs us of an elderly couple living in a gated community in Florida. They fear the violence resulting from poverty of circumstances surrounding them. Ms. Chodron implies that it is the elders who are at fault for the fear they experience, that they must open their arms to the terror around them, that they must become as nothing and embrace the thing they fear. What do they fear? Besides murder? The loss of their culture. The compromise of the quality of their life. Ms. Chodron does not seem to comprehend that pistol shots are exchanged on the freeways in southern Florida; that interracial violence and cross-cultural warfare has come to visit us in our homeland, and that southern Florida is one of its battlegrounds--and even if she does, she has no answer for it, except to say, we should submit to it. Peace is submission. I say that piety like this is suicide: piety does not, can not, will not, nor ever shall bring us peace, except the peace of the grave.

She likewise quotes with great approval Einstein, who faults us all for our consciousness--which, he describes as cut off, selfish, lacking understanding, and unwilling to embrace "the whole of nature". Einstein, good folk, was paid handsomely for his consultations on the development of Atomic Weapons. So much for embracing the "whole of nature" and its fundamental goodness. Saint Einstein, and his good work, the annihilation of millions, and the development of weapons with which his employers can further dominate our lives. So much for Ms. Chodron. She is either stupid or malicious, neither of which is very good for you.

tlt

I love listening to this tape. I put it on and start it over again when it is done. I find it totally inspiring to listen to the writing of this wise Buddhist monk.
My only criticism is that the woman who reads the book (beautiful voice, by the way). She pronounces the word "strength" omitting the 'g' sound. This was horribly annoying to me. I grew up pronouncing the 'g' and it sounds prissy and pompous to omit the 'g' sound.

I loved this book -- it's practical and prescriptive. I applied her advice into both my personal and professional life. Next steps -- I will read her entire collection.

Pema Chrodon's work is, as always is an insightful read about human nature and emotions and how we come to term with those emotions. I found the focus on the bodhichitta and the different sayings fascinating as well as enjoying further revelations about Buddhist beliefs and spirituality. All of what she writes is applicable to living life and facing the fears any of us could face.

The only reason this is a four instead of a five is because you can find a lot of what she writes in here, in her other works. It still makes for good reading, but reading one of her works seems to get to heart of all of her writing.

I am new on those buddhism staff, so I became to realize that you never end reading and learning from this sort of books.

Altough some terms results difficult to understand to me, It became a valuable source of advice.

When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times (Shambhala Classics)

For people who are looking for a practice guide that will help them understand the process of observation with rigorous acceptance, integrity and compassion of all that which is observed. This is about finding peace through that process because the heart opens as a result. The opening and openness of the heart are at the core of that peace which we seek. Our incessant wanting is only satiated by an open heart. It represents a mature emotional and spiritual approach in understanding what we want and how we gain peace. Perhaps a truly fully open heart receives (perhaps even attracts?) what it wants because it cherishes what is.

Pema Chodron is a treasure for the mind and spirit. Her writing is profound, wise, gentle and humorous. "The Places That Scare You" is a book to help guide anyone, of any faith. It helps us understand how to live life in an open, balanced and fearless way. It is written from a solid Buddhist perspective but is relevant to all humans. When I have difficult moments, I pick up this book and it helps ground me. When a friend if going through a rough patch, I send a copy to them.

I highly recommend this book and all of her publications as well.

I don't usually take the time to write reviews, but this book is just the greatest, and I felt obligated to say something. Every sentence has so much meaning, that I hesitate to underline as I usually do. I might have to highlight or underline the entire book! This book gives good descriptions of the big picture (the ideas), but also practical things that I can do to open my mind and life. I look forward to reading more of Chodron's books.

This Tibetan Buddhist nun writes in a straightforward, accessible way on nurturing courage in our lives. She describes meditation practices that enhance the "four limitless qualities" of loving-kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity. It is through these simple but powerful practices that our hearts are expanded and we find courage to live the life we are meant to live. Her conversational writing style makes reading her books pleasant and helpful. I like to read a chapter and think on it for awhile rather than reading straight through. The small physical format of the paperback (4 x 7, 186 pages) makes it handy for carrying along anywhere.

Another great book by Pema Chodron. Very practical and applicable to our everyday struggles with life. Truth spoken in common language!

This was a wonderful book that gently takes you through how to deal with your emotions as well as how to let them help you to develop your compassion. Before I was done reading it, I was already planning to read it again. I highly recommend this book!

No one gets through life without being asked to do some heroic deed whether internal or external. All heroic deeds have fear attached to them or else they wouldn't be heroic, right?

My recent heroic deed was to tell the truth. Reading Pema Chodron's, "The Places that Scare You" showed me that there are many mental/spiritual positions a person can take when being fearful. One helpful bit of advice was to take a deep breath and observe that fear, what is it trying to point us to, what needs to be changed so that that fear can be disarmed? It is a wonderful guide for compassionate introspection. Compassion being the key word here - first for ourselves then for others.

This is a great source of help, comfort and wisdom. Would recommend this author to everyone who is on a serious spiritual journey.

Once again, Pema Chodron shows how to use the difficult times in our lives as the most peaceful way toward spiritual growth. Not the first of her books I have purchased, and certainly not the last!

Her wisdom is ageless and important to anyone who has ever had a difficult time with someone or something. That about covers us all, eh? Great gift for friends and family, too. You don't need to be going through a difficult time to appreciate the clarity and significance of her words. It's useful at anytime in your life. Check out ALL her books - you can't go wrong with Pema Chodrun. Gentle, joyous and relevant to anyone who has a soul. Regardless of your religion or spiritual practices, this book will help.