Pema Chödrön - Why I Became a Buddhist

[kamwrites]

I like her!

[widiyono100]

You are so great, Venerable. May you always live peacefully and happily.

[janezmd]

This was lovely.

[8Ho03EdONl1liL]

She is "very very human" indeed. There's a human typing right now, but that human doesn't teach and profit from it. This is truly the Dharma-ending age.

[Carolsw1]

Eckhart Tolle might call the negativity the "pain body"

[MyAllaboutyou]

i love you, Pema, so very very human.

[jecalily72]

Thank you, Pema, for sharing your wisdom with us. Always before when trying to find peace or meaning in the words of buddhist teachers, I would become frustrated and say, " what do you know? It's easy for you to stay calm in your monastery, you don't know what it's like to be married and have kids. But Pema knows, she's been there, and I find her words an existence to be very helpful to me right now.

[lilithwind1]

I absolutely love her! In my older meditation classes we read a chapter each night from her book Start Where You Are and at that time I was only 20 I think??? but she is so down to earth and very simple to understand. I have decided to choose her as my guru and hope to meet her some day. *LOVE*

[catchersmitt0]

Wonderful. You CAN make a difference in your own life and live a better life. The Four Seals get pretty heavy; but if you live a better life, fine.

[Steiner62]

She's a kind & compassinate soul & her words help me greatly...

[Saattya]

Extraordinary! Thanks for posting.

She is pointing to something very profound and beneficial here regarding "negativity". The "negativity" here refers to all kinds including depression, anger, lust, etc.

[occultpriestess]

Thank you for posting this!

[TheGreeny38]

thanks for this video. i like how everyday experiences are used. i think they are great dharma teachings in there own right.

[TheBestOfOswestry]

That's a really nice video. Thank you for sharing it and thank you Pema for your honesty and warmth.

[laurasbotanicals]

I enjoyed this. I found it interesting that she was a nun first. She has a nice sense of humor. Being able to laugh at ourselves is very important... but when others laugh at us before we can it kinda smarts.

[motherofthemunchkins]

She is amazing! Thank you so much for posting this video.

[Ladyhawkwright]

There are so few women to look up to for us aspirants. We are blessed to have her.

[roddaut]

Wow. She's so disarming in her humor. I'm going to get one of her books.

[Boomhilda]

Phenomenal.

[happytenzin]

Pema meaning Lotus, and Chodron meaning cho= learning/religion and dron=similar to cho

[pavehawkdown]

"there is nothing wrong with negativity" is that because without it, positivity would not exist?

[birkuscircus]

Wow I can really relate to her so much... :)

[JonahS87]

Ah, Pema, you're really awesome:)

[milascave]

Pema is the real deal.

[hongkongluna]

"I couldnt entertain myself out of this feelling.." that's where the door is :)

[fooluvver]

In the midst of m own annihilation right now, I found this very comforting

[ammamaw]

fabulous. just fabulous. so real. ahhhhh...

[modpoetgod]

i have to second that: ahhhhh

[interwoven222]

that is awesome has me smiling, I wish I could have trained under trungpa

[eyesofamoonroof]

what a treasure! western, candid, down to earth and clearly well trained!

[Ganeschar]

@eyesofamoonroof - still long way to go :-)

[statemindful]

Transformative negativity as a dharma

[BuddhaShop]

Excellent

[RadCelt]

Clearly they are laughing because they identify with Pema.

[zuwizzle]

Pema's words helped me realize at a really low point in life that i was not crazy. Before her books I didnt understand Samsara or Ego and how much havoc i allow them to create, truly a blessing -

[oneseeker2]

Pema's teachings can touch many lives, if you just be quiet and listen... She is a breath of fresh air. She exhibits warmth, honesty, integrity, a wise smart woman.

[luyendao]

Well said...it is the most difficult thing to do, but the critical first step...be quiet and listen...

[BuddhaGoldenGirl]

Wonderful talk!

[brainwashedmasses]

grateful for Pema.

[Discordia5]

I hope to find this amount of strength in my lifetime.

[spaghetti1977]

I can't believe all the negativity I am reading from people's comments. This is so base. Take what you can from her offerings - it is there for you to take. There is no need to battle it out on here with others. Her offerings are all with good intent. I think she is very gifted, so eloquent, insightful and kind. What I hear comes from her heart and it lifts me up. Thank you Pema.

[rucia60]

I would love to go the Monastery, does anybodo knows how to communicate with them, i am writing from Chile, far away so I have to prepare it with anticipation, thanks....

[deplanfabriek]

@rucia60 Contact them thru their website.

[deplanfabriek]

@rucia60 Contact them thru their website. Youtube won't allow to post links here, but google ' gampo abbey' and you'll be alright.

[AtenRa]

I thought Trungpa threw himself into a decadent Western lifestyle when he came over here in order to experience how Buddhism might be better received and adapted here. It may just be a positive spin on his story, I dunno.

But if anyone's concerned that Trungpa destroyed himself, consider that wonderful Pema was his student, and her lifestyle wasn't crazy. She didn't follow his extravagance, she respected him otherwise, and she uses some of his teachings with her own. Is she "better" than him?

[QueerLiberation]

Perhaps she is simply different than him and her teachings are a reflection of her own challenges and her unique path.

[dvisatya]

I love her!!!

[tuttaresoha]

People who write comments about Trungpa are speaking from a VERY limited viewpoint. You didn't know trungpa and had no idea what he was doing - so put your judgements aside

[bostonpaul123]

interesting how she went from a husband who had a sexual addiction to a teacher who had one. From one person who violates trust to another.

[bostonpaul123]

Her teacher, and founder of their organization, chogyam trungpa rinpoche, died of drug addiction and alcoholism. He was extremely arrogant in his approach to students, behaving like a king, dressed in military outfits, and often sleeping with students. His next in line, died of aids, and it was proven that he knew he had aids when he infected a student who died from aids also. western Buddhism ihas much to offer but it has been rife with abuse and typical human frailties.

[WithMetta]

Life is "rife with abuse and typical human frailties." There is no place, save maybe a tiny patch of Deer Park once upon a time, where we completely transcend our humanness; it's what we have to work with. That's fine. This life stuff is a tricky business. Trungpa Rinpoche was a practitioner of Crazy Wisdom and, despite all of your and my disbelief, it worked! Pema, Naropa University... who knew?! Maybe Trungpa Rinpoche knew; could be.  I don't know.

[bobtommsncom]

both truth and you stand on their own strong legs....and you have seen the truth thru the lies, and released your false karma and negative dharma thru being detached from them, and denying their hold on you...

[Natarwen]

I have read all of her books, she's amazing!

I love her... Namaste

[kirk7524875248]

Amen!

[mindrunfree]

She's so for real, it's awesome.

[Wedemay]

love of the dharma is a powerful gift to those of us who resonate with her re-imagining of Chogyam Trungpa and Shantideva, among others. This venue allows her to deliver her "own" deep wisdom. It is inspiring to see such humility.

[califgirl101]

What an intresting and inspiring video this is! I would like to say that she really is a wonderfull down-to-earth young lady! In reading different kinds of material there are some or almost ever type of personality that asks themselves "Why Did I Become A Buddhist" and the comment at the start of the video said, "because I hated my husband" or alot of the time they'll mention they have lead different or abusive lives at some time or another. Honestly, to become a buddhist takes great faith!

[sweetxevex23]

Wow, she is really incredible. I had heard about her before but watching her in this video and sensing her gentleness and warmth and her humanness. She really bridging buddhism into western philosophy i think.

[headzepp]

Negativity without ego, for a drop of ego creates an endless hell for yourself and others. Desire can be helpful, if you desire for others, desire clear understanding, desire for skillful means. Negative is the similar, just ask: are you negative because of ego grasping, or because it is the correct response, for the benefit of others.

[drmnaga78]

Great, thankyou..

[SoundsTrueVideos]

I chose to post this segment because Pema shows us how real she is, and at the same time how alike we all are, with the same emotions and challenges to face.

[mindrunfree]

I am glad you posted it. I have benefitted greatly from this video. I have recommended it to friends and they also have found value in Pema's ability to be the bridge for her audience.

[rbourdillon]

Of course the irony here is those judging Pema Chodron for judging. LOL It's obvious it piqued your interest enough to comment. I personally like Pema. She is a well appreciated teacher and is quite capable of evoking some effect.

[LeLivredesMorts]

Thank you

[yogmaya09]

Pema Chodron is a Beautiful woman,except she shouldn't be bothered why other people join the monastry no matter how "weried" the reason and who does she meanwhen she says that"we do not encourage to do that"if she is a true practioner of Bhuddism then she would not sit in judgement of other folks joing the monastry,no matter how unfullfilled thier lives are,they have as much right as her to seek solace and wisdom.She should more compassion and do some more tonglen.

[concern4civility]

She is not making a judgment. Stating a truth. Monastic disciplines require... well discipline & courage. Most who are motivated by running away from troubles cannot last-- Chodren is not saying such people have no right to seek solace & wisdom.. Just that they may not be ready for monastic life--yet.

[yogmaya09]

they can atleast try can't they?who knows how they may transform!courage is what can be generated by all of us it just not been tapped.

[tso7tso7]

A response to the first respondent: Pema's talking about taking the stuff of your life, no matter how painful, often because painful, to wake up spiritually, "using the energy of your life to wake up." Life suffering shows one in the most direct way where one is clinging. Read her book WHEN THINGS FALL APART for a fuller answer. Namaste

[truthformeandyou]

"Hated my husband" - perhaps true, but not very funny - a "wise" Buddhist should understand this. Why do Buddhists seem to dress the same and take on the same persona and roles? They just change one set of "clothes" for another. God bless her anyway.

[lazrul]

Stop posting about things you have no idea about!

[concern4civility]

We take the path to develop perfection. She doesn't claim perfection now & especially at the time she was feeling hateful towards her husband. Perhaps you are not listening carefully.

[whovian1971]

"Hated my husband" - perhaps true, but not very funny - a "wise" Buddhist should understand this"

What the HELL are you trying to say? Huh? I neglect to see a single point you seem to be making.

[TheAleph74]

That was before she became a buddhist.

[Mapacha73]

There are no 'shoulds' in Buddhism.

[africaRBG]

what does that mean exactly, that there are no shoulds in buddhism??

[Shawnziez]

In the buddhist tradition there are no shoulds, as in a mental labeling of situations as a good or a bad. It is taught that by labeling materials or situations that happen in your life as good or bad, you derive a sense of identity from them, which is ultimately fictional, based on the illusion of time, and in the end will cause only suffering. Instead of " Should" and Should not" there are choices, and they happen every second of every moment of every day that you are alive.

[rybpo7]

She's just telling the truth. By your name truthformeandyou, it seems you would value that. She hated her husband. She told the truth as it was for her at the time. Grow up.

[QueerLiberation]

I value what you are saying. She is recognizing her own shadows and integrating them into her wholeness of being. This is something people who achieve a certain level of consciousness are willing to do.

[fogggygyrl]

Pema Chodron has such a marvelous sense of humor as well as terrific insight. She's down to earth and interesting and I can relate to her. She has a lot to offer to those who are seeking wisdom on this path.

[elevatedm]

wonderful book and wonderful practitioner

i applaud her and yes ifeel the same about chogyam trungpa.. one of the true bodhisattvas of our generation

[nicolatwo]

Blame is the worst.

[brandigirlio]

I love this lady. WHEN THINGS FALL APART got me through some hard times.

[Sundancerguy]

When I first read WHEN THINGS FALL APART I remember not having had a strong reaction to it. A few years later my world fell apart and I read the book again and it made perfect sense and helped me tremendously. After a few years I am again encountering Pema Chodron and she seems to be speaking directly to me and most importantly helping to guide me to a kinder gentler way of simply being. My deepest gratitude goes out to her and in turn her teachers before her.

[aperezNWO]

I share the same feeling with you. Here in my country, Colombia, Dalai Lama visited us in a unpreceded way. At first visiting a Buddish temple was a matter of curiosity. On that time a member of the congregation recommended me the book "The Places That Scare You". As you; nothing had real sense at first. After the beggining a financial trouble, each word of the book came so deep to me, and I realize, a single reading is not enough...

[RantVideos]

Ditto. Try reading Socrates and Plato they will put you to sleep. But I kept reading and it all started to make sense. I read one of her books from a friend, I forgot the title and it was like reading the long version of the Four Agreements. about how we are conditiond to act and think and respond from our mothers,fathers, teachers, society etc. and there is a better way to be. I do not stay mad at someone over and over days after they pissed me off and they wonder how I can not be mad . HA.

[dudeulartv]

I'm so glad I found this today.

[kanedasgirl]

Honest- and such clarity and forgiveness!

[Caminos07]

pema chodron rocks!!!!

[Nintendan]

I damn love that woman.