Comfortable with Uncertainty: 108 Teachings on Cultivating Fearlessness and Compassion Paperback – December 30, 2003

This compendium of short pieces has been a mainstay of our local Rigpa group. Pema Chodron is an American Buddhist nun who has specialized in mystical essays in Buddhist practice. 108 Chapter titles include:"Loving Kindness and Meditation," "Not causing Harm," and "Lighten Up(and Do Something Different)." Each essay conveys the paradoxical aspects of the Buddha's teaching. This is a work that will sustain repeated reading; it's not an item to read through in a few days.The volume editor writes: "Relative bodhhichitta is the courage and compassion to investigate our tender heart, to stay with it as much as we can, and gradually to expand it, ... Learning to rest in openhearted is a lifelong process. Learning to rest in openhearted basic goodnesss is a lifelong process. These teachings offer gentle and precise techniques to help us along the way."Chodron's style is full of ready American sentences, as well as classic Tibetan Buddhist theology, and down-home humor. Relatively inexpensive , it is a joy to read.

i found out about this book at my meditation session where the leader shared some quotes from this book. its full of wisdom and i think people should read it to have a new way of looking at things. we are so stuck in our own thinking most times and choose to suffer when there are other ways. the power is within you. it is within the you who are mindful, peaceful and grateful for everything that happens to you. life is a blessing. read that again.

This book was given to me as a gift when I was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer at 39 years old. I cannot express how wonderful and comforting this book has been for me. The focus is on living in the present and being comfortable with who you are and where you are right now, while practicing Buddhist principles to achieve the ultimate goal of enlightenment, are practical to everyone in the world. I was raised catholic and am currently agnostic, I would not say this book comes across as religious in any way, and I think it can be enjoyed by anyone who might follow other religious beliefs. Ultimately, being kind to everyone, including yourself, if a message we could all learn to practice daily.

Great book for after weekly group practice sessions, as the chapters after very short, the language simple, and most are independent of the order you read them in. Nice tidbits that can produce lengthier discussions. Also would make a good chapter-a-day post meditation book to remind a skilled practitioner about various aspects of the practice.However, for reading through from start to finish, those same qualities make this book great in those contexts make it seem disjointed. Pema Chodron also introduces many relatively advanced meditation practices without the context or specificity to truly guide someone new to the practice to perform them correctly.This is less the coherent self-help tome you might expect and more a potpourri of various Buddhist principles to provoke and remind.

Well, you can pick up any one of Pema’s books, open to any page and feel a sense of lightness and joy. This is not to say things are easy, her books just are soft place to land. I especially loved Comfortable with Uncertainty, I highlighted a phrase on each page and enjoy re-reading the phrases each day. Self-kindness, self-compassion, and self-care a bit everyday. Wonderful! R. Williams, coauthor of The Mindfulness Workbook for Addiction and The Gift of Recovery.

This little book deserves more than five stars. Pema Chodron is a wonderful presence in our postmodern world - she writes simply and beautifully, in a down-to-earth voice that conveys friendship and the compassion she teaches.This book is a collection of 102 brief passages from her previous books, perfect for those of us who like a daily devotional practice. The readings are chock full of wisdom and grace - Pema emphasizes self-compassion and patience with the process of mindful practice in a crazy world. I often give this book as a gift, because its so rich yet so easy to enjoy - each excerpt is only two pages, and is great for a quick daily dose of dharma.

This book literally changed my heart, in some way.I don’t think I can explain how much wisdom it contains and how healing it was to read every word.I found this book in the midst of, what felt, a huge uncertainty, I was feeling lost and unsure of pretty much everything in my life…and I couldn’t be more grateful. It was truly a blessing.I don’t think any book ever calmed me down so much, gave me hope & made me feel so grounded. I already recommended it to all my friends and I highly recommend it to anyone who’s struggling with feeling lost in life. It really helped me to get my happiness and contentment back. I’m so thankful.Absolute must read <3

Each "chapter" is a single page, making it perfect for a daily reading of mindfulness and buddhist principles for the western mind.

This is my favourite Pema Chodron book. Quick bite sized chapters. She has a gift for making the point quickly.

One of my favourite buddisht monk whose words I trust to alleviate darkness of my heart and put steady foundation in this modern time when I feel like drowning I look for some people's advise and Pema chodron is one of them.I can not appreciate enough wisdom shared in her writings.

This book contains wonderful readings (not a guarantee) to gain serenity a live a peaceful life

I haven't finished it yet. I'm reading it slowly, for savoring each word. Wonderful book! Very inspiring. I recommend it.

The big lesson lesson one can learn from this book is that truly delay is not denial. It helps with ideas on how to develop the habit of thanks-giving which has the capacity to enable us cope with difficult times.