The new book “Welcoming the Unwelcome,” by Pema Chödrön, is a combination of insight, humour, wisdom, and thoughts. It seeks to facilitate people’s ability to reach consensus and have a good impact on their surroundings. The book encourages readers to develop compassion in the face of adversity by sharing personal tales, commonplace techniques, and applicable guidance.
It discusses recognising the kindness in ourselves and others, turning hardship into learning experiences, releasing ourselves from labels, and the actual meaning of karma. There are also detailed instructions for sitting and compassion meditations in the book.
Read about Taking the Leap – Pema Chödrön with this detailed guide!
About the Author
Pema Chödrön is an American Buddhist nun who was a pupil of the famous meditation master Chögyam Trungpa. The Wisdom of No Escape, Start Where You Are, and The Places That Scare You are among her books. She is also a resident instructor at Gampo Abbey, the first Tibetan monastery in North America dedicated to Westerners, located in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.
Review
It’s annoying that I’m having trouble writing and reading reviews at the moment. I find it terrible that I can only seem to focus on novels like this or other politically relevant non-fiction works. This is the way it is for the time being, although I would much prefer to lose myself in literature. For the first time in my life—but then, we’ve never gone through what’s going on right now.
As practical, thrilling, and inspirational as Chodron is always for me, this is ideal for the times we live in. Her emphasis on how each of us can help create a more peaceful and loving period, as well as how we may maintain our sanity and continue to be compassionate despite our own and the world’s suffering is admirable.
To feel better, Chodron stresses the value of being connected to our true emotions and experiences without separating ourselves by acting out in an effort to divert attention or defend ourselves. But those diversionary tactics only last a short time, if at all.
They frequently result in unfavourable outcomes. Rather, we may recognise the interconnectedness of all life and maintain, as she puts it, “an open heart” by remaining with our emotions and letting them guide us into our connection with the rest of the world—not just humans, but all living things.
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Her writing gives me hope and practical ideas for growing my own practice, as it does in all of the Chodron books I’ve read. It’s a good thing that she frequently questions my emotional routines rather than my academic ideas. Her works should not be read idly; they should be used. She is a testament to our potential for positive transformation.
Second Review
This book was mediocre. While I was anticipating it, I was a little let down. It was disappointing, even though I have read and enjoyed many of Pema Chodron’s previous works. I felt Pema’s responses were too simple—just have empathy for those who commit acts of violence and remember that even if the ice caps melt, we will still be strong if we practice being aware of everyone’s fundamental goodness.
I was hoping for more in-depth discussion of the current “brokenhearted” state of our world and a deeper exploration of how to live “wholeheartedly.” Is it really going to help with the “brokenheartedness” that many of us are experiencing at the moment? Not in my possession.
It felt much more like a sidestep than her previous writings, and the references to social justice concerns were inserted into the narrative to appear up-to-date and conscious rather than to truly address the suffering of marginalisation and injustice.
The book had a lot of lessons that I found to be relevant and useful reminders, but nothing that I hadn’t already learnt and that were more effectively presented in her previous works, such as When Things Fall Apart and Taking the Leap.
Read about The Surrender Experiment – Michael A. Singer with this detailed guide!
Summary
Pema Chödrön’s book Welcoming the Unwelcome offers advice on how to face and change unpleasant situations with empathy and candour. It shows us how to accept our pain and turn it into a strength for change and personal development.