Pema Chödrön

Describes a traditional Buddhist approach to suffering and how embracing the painful situation and using communication, negative habits, and challenging experiences leads to emotional growth and happiness.

Heart Advice for Difficult Times

When Things Fall Apart

Pema Chodron

The beautiful practicality of her teaching has made Pema Chödrön one of the most beloved of contemporary American spiritual authors among Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike. A collection of talks she gave between 1987 and 1994, the book is a treasury of wisdom for going on living when we are overcome by pain and difficulties. Chödrön discusses: · Using painful emotions to cultivate wisdom, compassion, and courage · Communicating so as to encourage others to open up rather than shut down · Practices for reversing habitual patterns · Methods for working with chaotic situations · Ways for creating effective social action

Gelaine Trinidad

Sarah Erle

rumbledethumps

A good explanation of some foundational Buddhist beliefs, written with Chodron's typical humility and wisdom. The title is a little off-putting, as it is not really a recovery kind of book, but is for all times, not just difficult ones.

Pema Chödrön’s words are truly healing, she perfectly articulated all that I felt and all that I needed to hear. I listened to this on audible and liked it so much that I had to get myself the physical copy. It’s one of those books I know I’ll continuously return to when in need of a reminder and I highly recommend this to anyone dealing with grief.

Pema Chödrön's perennially best-selling classic on overcoming life's difficulties cuts to the heart of spirituality and personal growth--now in a newly designed 20th-anniversary edition with a new afterword by Pema--makes for a perfect gift and addition to one's spiritual library. How can we live our lives when everything seems to fall apart—when we are continually overcome by fear, anxiety, and pain? The answer, Pema Chödrön suggests, might be just the opposite of what you expect. Here, in her most beloved and acclaimed work, Pema shows that moving toward painful situations and becoming intimate with them can open up our hearts in ways we never before imagined. Drawing from traditional Buddhist wisdom, she offers life-changing tools for transforming suffering and negative patterns into habitual ease and boundless joy.

Heart Advice for Difficult Times (20th Anniversary Gift Edition)

Keven Wang

A little deeper than other books. I really appreciate the flavor of Tibetan Buddhism

Amy Arthun Lorton 

This was chosen for my book club. Couldn’t finish it.

Janet Doré

In my "perfect little world", everyone would own this book...and, read it annually. Kinda silly of me to say this being that the whole point of the book is that, not only is life not perfect, it's not even safe and secure. 

I found this book shortly after the love of my life made a (necessary) choice to let me go. I held myself together just long enough to walk through my front door...28 hours after leaving Europe. A couple of days later, I was looking for a quote to hold on to. I ended up at Goodreads...then was gently led to "When Things Fall Apart". Naturally, the title is what caught my attention. I ordered it the moment I finished reading the summary...and, began reading as soon as I ripped the box open. 

Wow. This book was not only just what I needed at that exact moment in my life, but it's going to be one of those gifts that keeps on giving. It gave me a totally different perspective on my present devastation...and, the bigger picture of my life. In a nutshell, the only difference between a "regular" person who happens to be a spiritual leader/guru and a regular "regular" person is that the former views fear and loss as an opportunity for growth instead of something to run from. POWERFUL. OK...it's going to take a lifetime of effort to change some deeply engrained habits (some genetic???), but it's a huge start. I've already marked my calendar to remind me when 365 days have passed...we'll see if I haven't already picked it up again at that point. 

I only wish the title did not lend one to believe that this is only a book for "difficult times". I wish I would have read this as a young adult and gotten a head start on falling into my fears at a much earlier age...not just the fears that arise in difficult times, but those little ones that impact us every day and hold us back from taking necessary risks and living life to the fullest. 

Time to end this review and try some meditation! 

P.S. I gave the love of my life this book...and, my "difficult time" ended shortly thereafter. Now when fears about the relationship threaten to overtake me, I meet them head on.

Sarah Henry

Mali Malzetta

Santosh Singh

Amalie

Kalei Handy

Johnie Hjelm

Cody DeHaan

Describes a traditional Buddhist approach to suffering and how embracing the painful situation and using communication, negative habits, and painful emotions leads to emotional growth and happiness.

When Things Fall Apart Heart Advice for Difficult Times

Reviews