Pema Chödrön, a renowned Buddhist nun, shares her wisdom on dealing with difficult people, setting boundaries, and keeping a sense of humor. She also talks about the challenges and benefits of taking the Bodhisattva vow, the power of love and humor in setting intentions, finding goodness in others, and the interdependent nature of relationships.

Pema Chödrön, a pioneering Tibetan Buddhist nun, shares insights on using difficult times as catalysts for growth. She emphasizes that change is inevitable and highlights how embracing discomfort can foster self-discovery. The discussion covers the significance of accepting suffering and fear, and how they can lead to a more authentic life. Pema also explores the journey from dependence to finding inner strength, urging listeners to recognize their inherent worth and embrace the transformative power of spirituality.

Pema Chödrön, a renowned Buddhist teacher and author, dives into the transformative power of facing one's fears. She discusses the necessity of confronting discomfort to stimulate personal growth and encourage shedding old identities for new beginnings. The conversation also emphasizes the role of meditation in not just coping, but enhancing engagement with life's difficulties. Finally, Pema advocates for discipline and resilience as keys to personal development, reminding us that self-improvement is a lifelong journey.

We’re now almost a full year into the era of Covid restrictions, and I suspect that many of you, as I am, are starting to internalize the fact that, notwithstanding the vaccines, there’s likely a ways to go yet. And the mental health issues are piling up: The depression, anxiety, and addiction. Moms, people of color, and elderly people who can’t see their families are among those getting hit especially hard. To inject a little sunshine, and perspective, and wisdom, we thought it might make sense to re-post one of our favorite conversations of the last year. Pema Chödrön has seemingly been trying to prepare us for this pandemic for years, through a series of popular books, with titles such as When Things Fall Apart, Welcoming the Unwelcome, and The Wisdom of No Escape. But as you will hear, she is anything but gloomy. Like all of the great meditation teachers I’ve met, she has a lightness and a sense of humor about her. She was born Deirdre Blomfield in Connecticut. She lived a conventional life, going to UC Berkeley, becoming a school teacher, and having a pair of kids. But after a rough divorce, she found herself adrift. During this time, she discovered Tibetan Buddhism, shaved her head, and became a nun. Now in her mid-eighties, she lives in rural Nova Scotia, where she is the director of Gampo Abbey. We connected with her — back in May — on an old-school landline. I was recording my half of the conversation from a closet in our erstwhile apartment in New York City, which at the time was the epicenter of the outbreak in America. We talked about how to actually welcome the unwelcome. We also discussed how to befriend your demons, sympathize without being stupid, lighten up in the face of fear, and embrace chaos as “extremely good news.” One other thing: we would appreciate it if you could take a few minutes to help us out by answering a brand-new survey about your experience with this podcast. To do so, please go to https://www.tenpercent.com/survey. And thank you! Full Shownotes: https://www.tenpercent.com/podcast-episode/pema-chodron-repost See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jack, Pema Chödrön, and Ajahn Sumedho share insights on monastic life, chanting 'Ah,' joys of being human on the spiritual path, celibacy, embracing change, and letting issues be teachers. They discuss open-heartedness, working with injustice, and the future being shaped by our present minds.