The Pema Chodron Audio Collection

Written and narrated by Leigh Martinuzzi

Pema Chodron is an American Tibetan Buddhist, author of many books and audiobooks, and perhaps one of the West’s most favourite Buddhist teachers.  In this audiobook narrated by Pema Chodron herself, she shares three of her most popular teachings including Pure Meditation, Good Medicine and From Fear to Fearlessness.

What I love about Buddhist teaching especially when delivered with such grace, love and good intent as Pema Chodron does, is that it doesn’t matter whether you’re a newbie or well-rehearsed it is easy to understand and take away the deep benefits found in this ancient wisdom. It’s easy to get taken in, as Pema Chodron speaks so calmly and with so much clarity on topics that will not only inspire you but at the same time deliver you a sense of peace and hope.

This audio collection runs for just over seven hours with a similar proportion dedicated to each teaching. In the first teaching, pure meditation, Pema Chodron guides us with detail and good explanation about the timeless Tibetan Buddhist practice of meditation. Good for beginners and reassuring for those who’ve been practising for some time.

While the practice is designed to assist one in letting go, with efforts to become more present in any given moment and aware, the simplicity of the practice, I believe often has people giving up. On the opposite side of the scale as we sit and try to focus on breath, ever-flowing thoughts and emotions that arise feel as if inescapable and as if we cannot let go. Pema Chodron’s guide brings greater understanding to this process and how to best navigate our way through.

The second teaching is all about Tonglen. This an additional meditation practice found in Tibetan Buddhism that means ‘giving and taking’. As explained by Pema Chodron the process is a kind of visualisation process involving thinking about and breathing in all suffering we are experiencing and that others are also experiencing and replacing it with compassion and kindness.

It is definitely one of those practices that I’ve never given the consistent time towards, however, from what I’m lead to believe it can lead to a reduced sense of selfishness and a higher sense of selflessness and this can reduce attachment to desires and many of our personal afflictions over time. I suppose we become less self-absorbed and more united with life as a whole.

In the final teaching, Pema Chodron talks about Maitri or loving-kindness. It’s a practice that aims to develop self-compassion and appreciation for oneself that will remove our fears and help us move into fearlessness. I felt it was in some aspects and extension of the above practice and one which I am not too familiar with, however, in listening to Pema Chodron teach it I can certainly appreciate the associated benefits.

Too often do we all judge ourselves strongly and this often leads to a lessening of the sense of self-worth. I think this practice allows as to avoid that limited sense of self-worth so we can bound forward beautifully as we are.

It is one audiobook that is easy to digest and at the same time perhaps necessary to listen to again. I will dedicate myself to this. I believe that each time you listen to this while also bringing it into your daily practice, you will pick up and learn something new that will allow you to enjoy this journey with greater joy.

If this book sounds of interest you can purchase The Pema Chodron Audio Collection here.

Please leave your thoughts, comments & questions below.

Peace, passion and purpose…

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