Fully Alive

We live in difficult times. Life sometimes seems like a roiling and turbulent river threatening to drown us. Why, in the face of that, shouldn’t we cling for safety to the certainty of the shore—to our comfortably familiar patterns and habits? Because, Pema Chödrön teaches, that kind of fear-based clinging leads only to even greater suffering.

In this recorded retreat, based on the program Living Beautifully with Uncertainty and Change held at Omega Institute, Pema Chödrön and her teaching assistant, Meg Wheatley, provide a wealth of wisdom for learning to step right into the river: to be completely, fearlessly present even in the hardest times, the most difficult situations.  It’s the secret of being fully alive. The teachings and practices they present includes:

   • A teaching based on a Native American prophecy for cultivating the ability to take nothing personally

   • A guided meditation for developing patience in the midst of irritation

   • Tips for accessing your innate strength and confidence—simply by altering your posture

It's easy to be openhearted when life is smiling at us, but how do we remain openhearted during life's rough times? How do we live skillfully during periods of upheaval, challenge, and unpredictability? According to Pema Chödrön, life's challenges provide the perfect opportunity to tap into our inherent strength and courage. In this videotaped retreat, Pema Chödrön gives us the tools to access our brave heart within so that we can live beautifully at all times.

Pema Chödrön is an American Buddhist nun in the lineage of Chögyam Trungpa. She is resident teacher at Gampo Abbey in Nova Scotia, the first Tibetan monastery in North America established for Westerners. She is the author of many books and audiobooks, including the best-selling When Things Fall Apart and Don't Bite the Hook.