Compassion Book: Teachings for Awakening the Heart

Introduces the Buddhist practice of lojong and explains how to make lojong teachings a practical part of everyday life.
"A newly designed reissue of Pema Chodron's Always Maintain a Joyful Mind--featuring everday inspiration drawn from the classic Buddhist practice of lojong and instructive commentaries by Pema for making the lojong teachings a practical part of everyday life. This uniquely accessible presentation of lojong, one of Tibetan Buddhism's most renowned practices, gets at the heart of compassion as only Pema Chodron can. Featuring the 59 pithy lojong slogans and Pema's commentary for everyday practice on each facing page, The Compassion Bookwill serve as a go-to handbook for anyone seeking to instill more love and joy in their lives. In addition, the book will offer readers access to a 45-minute audio download on the related meditation practice of tonglen ("sending and taking") taught by Pema"--
Let compassion and fearlessness guide you and you’ll live wisely and effectively in good times and bad. But that’s easier said than done. Here Pema Chödrön introduces a powerful, transformative method to nurture these qualities using a practice called lojong, which has been a primary focus of her teachings and personal practice for many years. And for centuries, Tibetan Buddhists have relied on these teachings to awaken the deep goodness that lies within us.The lojong teachings include fifty-nine pithy slogans for daily contemplation, such as “Always maintain only a joyful mind,” “Don’t be swayed by external circumstances,” “Don’t try to be the fastest,” and “Be grateful to everyone.” This book presents each of these slogans and includes Pema’s clear, succinct guidance on how to understand them—and how they can enrich our lives. It also features a forty-five minute downloadable audio program entitled “Opening the Heart,” in which Pema offers in-depth instruction on tonglen meditation, a powerful practice that anyone can undertake to awaken compassion for oneself and others.