Have you ever had an itch, and not scratched it? In the Buddhist tradition, this points to a vast paradox: that by refraining from our urge to scratch, great peace and happiness is available. On Getting Unstuck, Pema Chodron introduces a rare Tibetan teaching she received from her teacher, Dzigar Kontrul Rinpoche, and one that has become critical to her practice. Here, she unveils the mystery of an ineffable quality; a pre-emotional feeling that arises in us, brings us discomfort, and causes us to react by escaping the discomfort, often with harmful habits. With Getting Unstuck, she offers us a first look at both the itch and the scratch: what Tibetan Buddhists call shenpa.
On this new, full-length recording, Pema Chodron, best-selling author and beloved American Buddhist nun, shows us how to recognize shenpa, catch it as it appears, and develop a playful, lively curiosity toward it. Join Pema Chodron to discover more about:
Critical mind: how to recognize this fundamental shenpa, and approach yourself and others with a sense of humor and loving-kindness Ways to unravel the patterns of self-denigration, and develop the fundamental maitri, loving-kindness, toward yourself How to cultivate acceptance of your irritability, insecurities, and other simply human traits Recognition, Refrain, Relaxing, and Resolve: the four R's of working with shenpa, and moreAn urge comes up, we succumb to it, and it becomes stronger, teaches Pema Chodron. We reinforce our cravings, habits, and addictions by giving into them repeatedly. On Getting Unstuck, Chodron guides us through this sticky feeling, exploring the moments when we get hooked, and offers us tools for learning to stay with our uneasiness, soften our hearts toward ourselves and others, and live a more peaceful life in the fullness of the present moment.
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"I love Pema Chodron's writings, and so was excited to see that I could get an audio book of hers from the library. She's a great speaker - in fact, many of her books are transcribed talks. As with all of her writings, she explains aspects of meditation practice drawn from her experience as a Tibetan Buddhist nun. Getting Unstuck explores "not itching the scratch", and just sitting with what that feels like. Her point is that we run away from discomfort, be it emotional or physical, and that we reinforce the pattern of avoidance. But what would it be like to stay and experience what it is like to simply be uncomfortable? This is a 3 CD set that goes by veru quickly."
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Sonja (4 out of 5 stars)