Often, the books and tapes we recommend for “beginners” are also appropriate for more seasoned students. In this context, one never outgrows being a beginner. We recommend that all students receive in-person meditation instruction from an authorized Shambhala instructor (or some other genuine lineage) if at all possible. We also would be happy to answer questions about meditation practice and help individuals gain access to such instruction. Feel free to call (269) 384-4167 or write gptapes@aol.com.
In addition to instruction in practice, all students also can benefit from some overview of the path of meditation. Many of the audios and books in this section provide this, and are considered classics because practioners return to them again and again.
A128: Practicing Peace in Times of War - Shambhala Mountain Center. August 2007. With Acharya Pema Chödrön and Shambhala International President Richard Reoch. This is the third (and last) time President Reoch and Pema Chödrön taught this particular program. Our understanding is that, although the Omega and California programs were excellent, this SMC program most completely fulfilled the teachers' intentions. 12 regular audio CDs: $87.00,
or 2 MP3 formatted audio CDs: $50.00
Following are talk titles and costs for individual talks:
Talk 1: The Path of Courage; + Meditation Instruction #1 (2 CDs) $14.50; Talk 2: Shenpa and Natural Intelligence. (2 CDs) $14.50; CD #5: Meditation Instruction #2. (1 CD) $12.00; Talk 3: Natural Openness and Leaning In; + Meditation Instruction #3 (2 CDs) $14.50; Talk 4: Natural Warmth and Maitri; + Meditation Instruction #4. (2 CDs) $14.50; Talk 5: Richard Reoch: Being a Lotus in the Middle of the Fire (1 CD) $12.00; Talk 6: The Power of Joy; Closing Ceremony. also: Richard Reoch: Comments before visiting stupa (2 CDs) $14.50.
A109: Choosing A Fresh Alternative. For those wishing to explore how we habitually get stuck and how we then unwillingly escalate the very dissatisfaction and pain we long to escape. We can choose to do the same old thing or we can choose the joy of a fresh alternative. 6 cassettes $72; 9 CDs $79.50; 6 DVDs $150.
A112: Losing Our Appetite For Aggression. September 4-6, 2004. A weekend retreat at Spirit Rock Mediation Center in Woodacre, CA. Pema Chödrön defines aggression as "pushing away our experience, or resisting our experience." When we become curious about the "pushing away" and acknowledge when we resist what's happening, that opens the doorway to enlightenment. Peace on earth will come from staying present with the dynamic energy of aggression. 5 cassettes $60.00; 9 CDs $70; 5 DVDs $125; 1 MP3 CD $35.
A106: Peaceful Abiding Meditation: When Things Fall Apart. Shamatha Teachings, New York City 2004. Pema Chödrön gives a straightforward and practical presentation on how to develop a stable, open, and strong mind in the midst of the chaotic, painful, and groundless experiences of our lives. An additional theme is how not to respond to pain by hardening into self-righteous, aggressive, fundamentalist attitudes. This is our best short teaching series on mindfulness meditation, excellent for beginners, as well as for more experienced practitioners. 4 talks on 5 cassettes or 6 CDs $53.
A67: Meditation in Action (City Retreat I). A 6-talk overview of the 3 yanas of Buddhism (hinayana, mahayana and vajrayana), covering the Four Noble Truths, the practice of tonglen, the Heart Sutra, and an introduction to vajrayana practice. 6 cassettes $72.00; 11-CDs $84.50; or 1 MP3 CD $42.25. (See video section for single DVDs from this set).
A87: The Four Limitless Qualities: Love, Compassion, Joy, Equanimity. Berkeley, 2001. This is Pema Chödrön's most thorough and practical presentation of the four limitless qualities to date, rich both in explanation, descriptions, and guided practice. A 6-week retreat in 7 sessions. 7 cassettes $84.00; 13-CDs $99.00; or 1 MP3 CD $49.50.BR11-DVD: Turning the Mind into an Ally by Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche. The perfect companion to the book Turning the Mind into an Ally on DVD. With humor, clarity, and insight, Sakyong Mipham shows how to turn the mind towards the practice of meditation in everyday life. A talk on meditation, Dalhousie University, Halifax NS, March, 2003. Total running time: 97 minutes. Includes bonus 21-minute guided meditation and instruction. $28.00.
The Presentation of Tonglen Practice and Lojong/Mind Training.
These are the teachings that Pema Chödrön is best known for, and which the Sounds True sets address in less detail. The concurrent study of books such as Jamgon Kongtrul's Great Path of Awakening, Trungpa Rinpoche's Training the Mind, Khyentse Rinpoche's Enlightened Courage, and others is recommended.
A66: Working With Pain: Developing Inner Strength (Boulder 10/97) 4 talk set. Originally a weekend program, this is an excellent brief presentation of tonglen practice and the essence of working with the lojong ”slogans.” This is truly an inspiring, challenging, and empowering set. 4 cassettes $48. 7-CDs $55.50.
A88: Going to the Places that Scare You. Five Slogans practiced by Machig Labdron, following the instructions of her teacher, Padampa Sangye. A seminar with Pema Chödrön, given in Berkeley, California, September 2002. This program addresses learning to practice with fear, aversion, and suffering in the context of mahayana motivation: the intention to benefit others. This set presents the practice of tonglen in several forms. Excellent guided meditations. 5 cassettes $60; 8-CDs $67.50; 1 MP3 CD $33.75; 5 DVDs $105.00.
A78: Training the Mind. (City Retreat II, Berkeley 11/99). This systematic presentation of lojong and tonglen teachings includes a chapter by chapter discussion of Jamgon Kongtrul's Great Path of Awakening (Jangchup Shunglam). This is Pema's most methodical presentation of tonglen practice and the lojong material. 7 cassettes $84; 13 CDs $99; 7 DVDs $175.
A78-4: View & Guided Tonglen Instruction. Single talk from the set above. An introduction to the tonglen practice of sending and taking. Tonglen practice is a method for connecting with suffering – our own and that which is all around us, everywhere we go. It is a method for overcoming our fear of suffering and for dissolving the tightness of our hearts. 1 cassette or 1 CD $12.00; or 1 DVD $25.00.
Other Recommended Singles
A104: Practicing Peace in Times of War. San Francisco, 2003. As each of us is dedicated to wanting there to be peace in the world, then we have to take responsibility when our own hearts and minds harden and close. 1 cassette or 1 CD $12.
A80: Facing Our Demons: A Story of Milarepa. The story of Milarepa is used as an example of how to face our own “demons.” How to work with resistance and pain, and to go into any situation with an open heart. 1 cassette or 1 CD $12.
A108: Losing Our Appetite For Aggression - Public Talk. Grace Cathedral, San Francisco, CA, June 2, 2004. The way we act and react, sows the seeds in this lifetime and for this nation. How to work with our own aggression at the personal level. 1 cassette or 1 CD $12; 1 DVD $25.
A114: Wisdom and Compassion: Pema Chödrön and Jack Kornfield. San Francisco, CA 2005. A conversation between these two great teachers, held at Nob Hill Masonic Center in San Francisco. Tapping into our own wisdom and compassion in today's world. Moderated by Michael Krasny. 1 cassette $12.00; 2 CDs $14.50; 1 DVD $25.
A74: Near and Far Enemies of the Six Paramitas. Working with misunderstandings of and obstacles to the bodhisattva practice of the six paramitas: generosity, discipline, patience, enthusiasm, meditation, and wisdom. 1 cassette or 1 CD $12.
A105-3: Popping the Bubble of Ego. Shambhala Mountain Center 2003, “Learning to Stay” talk 3. There comes a time when the bubble of ego is popped and you can’t get the ground back for an extended period of time. Those times, when you absolutely cannot get it back together, are the most rich and powerful times in our lives. 1 cassette $12.00 or 2 CDs $14.50.
A54-5: Karma is Not a Punishment. Gampo Abbey, February 1998. The teachings on karma show how we are completely empowered to create our own future. From The Four Reminders: Pema Chödrön’s commentary on Words of My Perfect Teacher by Patrul Rinpoche. 2 CDs $14.50.
A86: Connecting with the Heart: Working with grief, emptiness, and being overwhelmed. Sonoma, CA, July 2001. Pema Chödrön talks about the intention of meditation, answers questions on the 4 limitless ones, and gives a short guided meditation on the practice of compassion. 1 cassette $12.00; 2 CDs $14.50.
A60: Mindfulness Meditation Instruction: The Bearable Lightness of Being. Cambridge, MA, August 1996. Mindfulness meditation instruction and a discussion of why we practice and how it relates to practicing tonglen. The more we train in opening our minds, the more the practice of tonglen makes sense. (Note: this talk appears in the Sounds True set “Pure Meditation”) 1 cassette or 1 CD $12.
A89-4: This Precious Human Life. Gampo Abbey, Yarne Retreat 2002. Pema Chödrön talks about the qualities of a precious human birth: Appreciating what we have, realizing it would be a great loss to waste it, getting our priorities straight, and not being clueless about what to do. Talk 4 of A89: Renunciation, the 4 Reminders and Freedom". 1 cassette $12.00 or 2 CDs $14.50.
The Bodhisattva Path
Pema Chödrön's in-depth, line by line commentaries on Shantideva's “The Way of the Bodhisattva” are highly recommended. These teachings are the basis for her book, “No Time To Lose”. Click here for her weekend seminars, City Retreats, and chapter-by-chapter commentaries on these profound teachings that describe the steps we can take to cultivate courage, caring, and joy - the keys to healing ourselves and our troubled world. The Way of the Bodhisattva
Recommended Books
The fact is, we don’t carry very many books, so all of the books in our books section are highly recommended. We carry all book titles by Pema Chödrön, as well as a selection by her teachers, Chögyam Trungpa and Sakyong Mipham. Click here for our book section: Books