When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times

Buddhist Teachings for Western Ears

How many times have you heard a Buddhist intellectual relate a teaching by saying, 'this reminds me of a Gary Larson cartoon I saw once?' Ane Pema Chodron, an American Buddhist Nun, truly knows how to bend the Western ear toward Eastern thought. Further, she does so with honesty, humor and clarity in this amazing book. I purchased this at a time when for me things seemed to be 'falling apart.' It reminds one of the need to attend to and, indeed, love one's self as a path to attending to and loving others. Pema Chodron is truly someone I would love to meet one day.

9 out of 9 people found this review helpful.

Very Powerful

This is a very powerful book. I am a Christian and a therapist but she raised some questions and issues that I wished I had studied many years ago. This is the most impactful book I have ever read

6 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

When things Fall Apart They Really Fall Apart so Let them

I had to read this book for one of my english classes as Saint Norbert College and it isn't really a self help book but it sure has helped me. Now I have this little pema that sits on my shoulder when I start to panic and she just tells be let it fall apart it will go back and fall apart again and again there is no use freaking out about it. I really like the stories in the book that she uses to get her point across as well. One book from school I don't mind hanging onto

5 out of 8 people found this review helpful.

Helped me at a difficult time

I bought this book after my mother died, and it did help me. Specifically, I found helpful the concepts that suffering connects us to other humans, not just today but who have suffered down through history, and that such events can be viewed as a gift, to 'wake us up' and help us become enlightened. Nobody wants pain, but it is better to face it and have a way of dealing with it positively.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

We all need to read this in these difficult times!

I highly recommend this book to help us all survive these difficult times with loving kindness toward one another instead of blame and "me-first" mentality. It helped me "lean into" difficult times instead of running to the refrigerator or the mall. Just READ IT!

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Life Changing - perhaps the only book you ever need to read

I’ve read a plethora of “self-help” books over the past years – most of which had at least some useful nugget. This book was different. When I finished I commented to a friend “I don’t think I need to read any more books – I just need to read this one over and over.” Of course, the key is that it’s not just about reading but about doing what’s suggested – that’s the hard part.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Good tool for improving meditation practice

I think this audio book was helpful to me in learning more effective ways to use meditation in my life. It's definitely a must read for those who are interested in improving and refining their meditation practice. Pema Chodron reminds us, however, that there is no right or wrong way to practice meditation but there are some useful suggestions you can incorporate into your practice. I enjoyed several concepts she discusses and the references she makes are helpful. One important point she makes is about the challenge we face in making changes in our lives. Pema explains that our lives are similar to the rotating mill wheel that we decide needs to reverse it's rotation. She reminds us that at first, it takes a lot of effort and energy to begin the process of reversing the wheel's direction, but once you make the commitment and invest that time it then starts spinning in the other direction almost effortlessly. She also talks about fear and how we have to learn to face it in order to overcome it. She gives the example of a Buddhist monk visiting a Monastery where a fierce dog ready to attack is chained to a gate from which he breaks free and starts running towards the group. While the others run away in fear, the monk runs towards the dog with an equal fierceness that stops it in its tracks. I like that analogy in terms of how we must learn to face scary things in our own lives. We can either choose to run away from them or face them and defeat them. It's a profound read and not for the faint of heart. It definitely is a book I'll need to go back to often, because there is a lot of deepness to it that can't be fully absorbed in one setting. I find myself reflecting and journaling on many of the key points. I love the audio version because I can pause the CD where I need to and then go back to it when I'm ready for the next major point. I think I'll be re-reading it (or listening to it) soon. There's always something new to absorb each time.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

When things fall apart

This is a good book because things will fall apart, even this book. Everything in the universe falls apart. We should learn and know how to deal with it. Pema Chodron expresses this truth wonderfully.

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Great reading

Thoroughly enertaining and enjovable. If you didn't love Charleston before you will after reading this book.

1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Excellent insight into utilizing Buddhist traditions

There is a gentleness to the way Pema Chodron writes. Clearly, she comes from the Buddhist perspective - she is a Buddhist nun. However, she is also an American woman who has come to this spiritual tradition and represents it in a way a Western reader can easily relate to for their use in daily life.

Great stuff!!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Nice book

This is a nice book for anyone, not just for those who feel that things are falling apart. It offers insight into accepting life just as it is, in this moment. The author shares her 'wisdom mind' in this concise and compassionate book about finding peace within the fundamental groundlessness of life.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Police road block

Everyone must be serched

Drake to "Jade"Or Whatever she or her calls herself

Im done rping so if we're still "together" or whatever then its over.Becase honestly i think your a liar.And frankly i dont have time for your games.I have a rl gf and i dont have time for a rp one.Especially a sneaky b i t c h like you.Im still in love with jess but i don really think it matters now that shes dating that tyler/you guy.Thats why im quitting rp unless i can get jss back.But i guess that will never happen and she will never know how deeply i really feel for her.So goodbye and have fun with your games.

Jade

Rolls eyes.

Life changing

If youre sad, scared, angry, hurt or alone read this book. It will change your life. I always come back to this book.

Simply great.

Pema Chodron is the best!

Wonderful advice

Very helpful in putting things into perspective

a fresh, new approach

I just finished reading this book, and immediately started it again. Chodron is real, and gives real strategies for battling emotional demons like fear, anger, etc. She shares her own struggles, and gives great guidelines. I have used her lessons in my own meditation practices with great results. I even sleep better at night! This one is a keeper.

Putting The Pieces Back Together

This is a great book to have on hand when things fall apart. It will be the glue to put things back together. I'd also recommend that you buy "When God Stopped Keeping Score," which takes an intimate look at the power of God and forgiveness. This book too will change your life.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.