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Getting Unstuck

Breaking Your Habitual Patterns and Encountering Naked Reality

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Getting Unstuck

By: Pema Chödrön
Narrated by: Pema Chodron
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About this listen

 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 more

    An 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.

    • ©2005 Pema Chodron (P)2005 Sounds True     Buddhism Career Success Motivation & Self-Improvement

    Critic Reviews

    "Chodron demonstrates how effective the Buddhist point of view can be in bringing order into disordered lives." (Publishers Weekly)
    All stars
    Most relevant
    I just love this so much, it was so transformative and soothing to the soul

    Just completely transformative and reassuring

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    I listen to this talk regularly and recommend it to others who are suffering. If you are interested in learning how to get through the many different forms of suffering you may experience in life, then this book/talk is a great starting point. Pemas' warm heart and sense of humour brings an unexpected freshness to the teachings of shenpa

    My go to teachings.

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    a marvelous teaching on how the mind works. It sat with me in how I see things now

    fantastic it was just what I needed.

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    the practice of staying present and how integral this is to everyday life, do listen

    a must listen for life today

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    great podcast on how to train your ability to take in new things in life and keep changing to a better self.
    loved techniques described and the approach. great combination of theory and stories/examples. could not stop listening until finished it in one go.

    Highly recommended

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    Pena Chodron provides a simple yet practical approach to the complex area of changing unhelpful patterns of behaviour. Good humour aids the listener to relate to their own experiences without judgment.

    Incredibly helpful

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    This is the most meamindful and revolutionary teaching I've heard. The idea of 'shenpa' really gets to the heart of the suffering of man kind, and Pema Chodron provides ways to overcome.. Primarily, to learn to stay rather than numb out or distract ourselves with our habitual thoughts and addictions.
    Onto my sixth listen and the understandings are seeping through. It is short, entertaining and a joy to listen to. Simply life changing.

    Profound & life changing

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