Pema Chodron And Her Insightful Book

 

Dear Reader,

Recently, I had the opportunity to read a book named "How to Meditate - A Practical Guide to Making Friends With Your Mind", By Pema Chodron. I must say it was a great read. Born in New York, on 14th July 1936, Pema is an American Buddhist nun. She learned and practised meditation under the guidance of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche and became her disciple. She has written several books and reading her can certainly add immense value to our life.

This book provides you with guided meditation techniques and more importantly, it imparts some fascinating insights into the nature of our mind. We as individuals are in a perpetual learning process in our daily life. Be it academics, work, or life, every moment we are learning and contemplating about various ideas. But isn't it necessary for us to know something about the very tool i.e our 'Mind' through which we learn everything? I am sure your answer would be in the affirmative. This book addresses the same. 

Divided across 5 parts and 28 chapters this book presents to you some of the most traditional and fundamental insights into Buddhism. The practices suggested in this book are highly scientific in nature and applicable in daily life. The approach of Buddha, to my mind, was scientific. Buddha did not place emphasis on an omnipresent and omnipotent God. For Him, even 'faith' wasn't of much importance. His teachings are rooted in experimentation. Do the practice yourself and judge your monkey mind. You are your own teacher and student.

Some of my favourite chapters in this book are :

a) Chapter 8 - The Monkey Mind

b) Chapter 14 - Emotion as an object of meditation 

c) Chapter 18 - Drop the story and find the feeling.

There are other fascinating insights in this book that can help you. Speaking from my experience, I can proclaim that I will read it again after a few months. I would really recommend you to read this book and share your views with me. In my subsequent posts, I will share some other books as well written by her. 

Thank you 

Abhishek Kumar. 

Visit - https://pemachodronfoundation.org/