When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times by Pema Chodron Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times
Book Review: Take your time to read this
Summary: 5 Stars
You might think, because this is a slim book, that it will be a quick read, but my advice is to really take your time with htis book. Chodron's advice is straightforward and simple, but it has a lot ot offer and some meditation will certainly make it sink in deeper.
Take your time and really appreciate the words, the advice.
I know this book has helped me through some difficult times, as well as helping me forgive myself. Things fall aprt, but eventually they come together again and fall apart again.
Book Review: Great Clarity
Summary: 5 Stars
Pema Chodron writes this book with great clarity for everyone to understand her philosophies behind living a life of mindfulness. This 140 page book touched a part of my consciousness that has never been touched. Chodron does a wonderful job emphasizing the most practical, yet necessary introspective of Buddhist philosophies/teachings into everyday life. She compliments these introspectives with her personal stories as well as lessons/stories from her guru teacher Ch?gyam Trungpa Rinpoche. Chodron eloquently emphasizes and identifies everyone has a maitri (Buddha nature), and in order to awaken that maitri one must take necessary steps of clearing one's mind. Chodron examines a series of human emotions such as fear, death, suffering, anxiety and suggests to the reader these feelings should not be avoided. Avoidance such as grasping, blaming, denying are feeding into the philosophy of Samsara in Tibetan Buddhism (wheel of death). In fact she suggests for individuals to deal with these emotions because in essence these emotions are illusions. Nonetheless, this book is very instrumental in helping one clear their mind, and in doing so it will empower one to prolong their life through meditation, yoga, and perhaps this will provide insight and answer the question of "What or Who is God"?Book Review: Plain and Simple Pema
Summary: 5 Stars
I am coming from a Religious Science and Eastern POV. I find Pema writes clearly and simply. A quick read that is a rereader. I found my thoughts, feelings and emotions shared and clarified by Pema. She accomplishes this sometimes in just a sentence or two several times throughout this book. Spiritual Practice assumed to be part of readers consciousness. Book Review: Disappointing & Weird
Summary: 1 Stars
When I read the reviews here of people warning not to give this book to someone who's depressed or suicidal, I thought they were exaggerating and being silly. Then I got to Chapter 7, "Hopelessness and Death" and I saw what they were talking about. It just got worse from there. While I understand (to a point) what Chodron is saying, I think it's better said elsewhere and the way it is said here could be a serious blow to someone who is severely depressed or suicidal, so I agree with the warning in the other reviews. However, I would go further to not recommend this book to anyone regardless of their mental state because I think it's an awful book. I felt that while Chodron was covering some points of Buddhism, she was presenting them in a very negative and twisted fashion, and some of what she states is completely antithetical to the Buddha's teachings. I worry that someone who is unfamiliar with Buddhism might read this book and think that it's an accurate portrayal of Buddhism. Yikes! I admit I'm not a big "fan" of the Tibetan school of Buddhism, but from what I know of it, Chodron's version is even far removed from that. Lastly, there are a couple elements that might offend some readers, so I mention them - a very stridently atheistic insistence and several instances of needlessly coarse language (the "s word" for feces, etc.). While strong language and atheism don't bother me, the way she words things and presents ideas rubbed me the wrong way. If you do choose to read this book, make sure you have a copy of Thich Nhat Hahn's "The Miracle of Mindfulness" close at hand. It is the perfect antidote to this book and presents many of the same concepts in a much more Buddhist and compassionate way.Book Review: One of Pema's best books!
Summary: 5 Stars
There is no way you could NOT feel better about anything going on in your life after reading this book.