The places that scare you

QuinoaQueen reviewed The Places That Scare You by Pema Chödrön

Good Standalone, Bad Author

3 stars

This book is very interesting, especially when taking into account the personality and circumstances of the author. Pema is a person who has been exposed with allegations of abuse in her sect of practice, and I am rating the book outside of the knowledge of these allegations. I am, of course, going to point out a few moments where I felt the perspective where she thought these things were okay come out.

Reading this book was interesting because it is like a handbook for Pema's Buddhist practice. Various mindsets, meditations, mantras, and goals to achieve are outlined chapter by chapter. There are a few moments where Pema describes having love for all people, even those who are "bad." I do attribute this to her religious beliefs more than an alignment with the morals of those "bad" people because she describes the importance of leaving a situation (saying "enough") as …

This book is very interesting, especially when taking into account the personality and circumstances of the author. Pema is a person who has been exposed with allegations of abuse in her sect of practice, and I am rating the book outside of the knowledge of these allegations. I am, of course, going to point out a few moments where I felt the perspective where she thought these things were okay come out.

Reading this book was interesting because it is like a handbook for Pema's Buddhist practice. Various mindsets, meditations, mantras, and goals to achieve are outlined chapter by chapter. There are a few moments where Pema describes having love for all people, even those who are "bad." I do attribute this to her religious beliefs more than an alignment with the morals of those "bad" people because she describes the importance of leaving a situation (saying "enough") as also being a form of loving compassion towards yourself and others.

Overall an interesting, educative read, 2.5 stars. I can't say I trust that everything said in this book is an actual representation of the Buddhist sect Pema is part of because of how she was raised and my general reservations towards white women who co-opt and profit from religions like Buddhism. I am glad I did not purchase my copy because I do not want to support this woman's institution whatsoever.

moving to outside.ofa.dog reviewed The Places That Scare You by Pema Chödrön

Review of 'The Places That Scare You' on 'LibraryThing'

3 stars

This book introduces a large number of practices that seem potentially useful for coping with fear of things we can't control. But that's all it does - each chapter is a short, superficial description of a practice, very few of which I feel able to really engage with from just that description. I suppose this is more a case of just not being what I was looking for than a real flaw in the book.

moving to outside.ofa.dog reviewed The Places That Scare You by Pema Chödrön

Review of 'The Places That Scare You' on 'LibraryThing'

3 stars

This book introduces a large number of practices that seem potentially useful for coping with fear of things we can't control. But that's all it does - each chapter is a short, superficial description of a practice, very few of which I feel able to really engage with from just that description. I suppose this is more a case of just not being what I was looking for than a real flaw in the book.