How to Meditate

Pema Chödrön argues that meditation's purpose isn't eliminating thoughts but training the mind to stay present with whatever arises. Drawing from the Tibetan Buddhist concept of shamatha, or "peaceful abiding," she outlines a practice built on the Six Points of Posture, the Sanskrit principle of maitri (unconditional friendship with oneself), and Gotsampa's Seven Delights for transforming difficulty into awakening. From Ponlop Rinpoche's teaching on confronting negative emotions to Mingyur Rinpoche's comparison of the mind to vast space, this guide treats emotions not as threats but as pure energy awaiting awareness.

You'll learn:

- How the "pause practice" locates emotion in the body

- Why treating thoughts like dreams prevents mental entanglement

- What bodhichitta reveals about maintaining openness amid uncertainty