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  • How We Live Is How We Die

  • Written by: Pema Chödrön
  • Narrated by: Olivia Darnley
  • Length: 6 hrs and 7 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (10 ratings)

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How We Live Is How We Die

Written by: Pema Chödrön
Narrated by: Olivia Darnley
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Publisher's Summary

Discover newfound freedom in life’s ever-constant flow of endings and beginnings with the wise words of Pema Chödrön, beloved Buddhist nun and bestselling author of When Things Fall Apart

As much as we might try to resist, endings happen in every moment—the end of a breath, the end of a day, the end of a relationship, and ultimately the end of life. And accompanying each ending is a beginning, though it may be unclear what the beginning holds. In How We Live Is How We Die, Pema Chödrön shares her wisdom for working with this flow of life—learning to live with ease, joy, and compassion through uncertainty, embracing new beginnings, and ultimately preparing for death with curiosity and openness rather than fear.

Poignant for listeners of all ages, her teachings on the bardos—a Tibetan term referring to a state of transition, including what happens between this life and the next—reveal their power and relevance at each moment of our lives. She also offers practical methods for transforming life’s most challenging emotions about change and uncertainty into a path of awakening and love. As she teaches, the more freedom we can find in our hearts and minds as we live this life, the more fearlessly we’ll be able to confront death and what lies beyond. In all, Pema provides listeners with a master course in living life fully and compassionately in the shadow of death and change.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2022 Pema Chödrön Foundation (P)2022 Shambhala Publications

What listeners say about How We Live Is How We Die

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Deep wisdom

This book is opening my eyes to life and to death. It is I credibly precise in its knowledge and full of practical suggestions. Thank you to the remarkable Pema Chödrön 🙏❤️

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  • Sabine Blanchard
  • 2022-10-19

Dealing with disappointment!

I have read all of Pema’s work. Ironically, I have adopted her teachings to deal with the disappointment which was very helpful because I have been admiring her for years now. Unfortunately she does the very thing that turns me off about religion-this book is full of teaching that is based on pure belief in that which is not known and cannot be known for sure… I.e., what “exactly “ happens during and following death. It requires “faith” in what is being said and frankly the concrete descriptions (I.e. 49 days for this, 3 days for that) of “what happens “ during death made no sense and sounded simply silly to me. I was disappointed in that Pema has always given common sense practical teachings based on personal experience, not requiring “faith” in esoteric beliefs that cannot really be known … however her teachings on dealing with disappointment have been great … otherwise this could have been a very upsetting change of heart regarding a woman I have for years thought so highly of… kudos to the narrator… she was excellent…
I still love Pema, because thanks to her teachings I am able to deal with this disappointing realization that she too is somewhat a victim of that which requires pure faith in believing what is being put forth in this book….

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11 people found this helpful

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  • Carol
  • 2023-01-27

Thank you for this book!

I am facing terminal cancer and this book is helping me get prepared. What a gift! Thank you Pema!

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7 people found this helpful

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  • ride
  • 2022-11-01

Probably good for innocent neurosis

Pema Chodron is a great author and teacher. Unfortunately everything I’ve read of hers involves working with the mild neurotic anxieties of a privileged person with few serious problems. If your biggest problems are also craving a dessert or envying your neighbors meditation cushion, you might really benefit from her work. If you have a serious medical problem or are facing poverty, or have another very serious problem in life, you might not be able to relate to Pema’s work

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6 people found this helpful

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  • Ed Lanigan
  • 2023-03-05

Learning how to “die” every day

Loved this book as it helped remind me of my need to learn how to “die” every day (e.g., die to our ego, things out of our control, our resistance to change. I offer a caution to those that are totally new to Pema and Buddhism. She discusses concepts and practices from past teachings that you may not be familiar with. In that case, read it with an open curious mind. And then continue your study with Pema and other teachers.

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  • Steven Arthur
  • 2022-10-10

Not much new for a reader of Buddhist texts

While enjoyable there were only a few concepts that were new to me. I’ve read most of the publications mentioned in the text but I don’t consider myself that well read in the subject. Probably more applicable for someone new to the subject. My 4-star review on the narration was that I found her difficult to understand quite often.

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  • 471tam
  • 2023-01-23

How we live is how we die

Essential reading for all humanity. Must read for anyone, like myself, over the age of 65

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  • RoninSatori
  • 2022-11-16

Tearful and Wonderful

In 2022 we've lost four of our furry friends, two grandmothers, and a great aunt. It was one after another after another and each time I tried to be there in the final moments in Tonglen meditation to help them transition from life to rebirth. I didn’t know what else to do with the grief in my head questioning if I had done enough. When Pema began listing the things we can do to comfort the dying I lost it feeling grief turn into relief. This is a wonderful addition to our library.

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  • Me
  • 2022-11-04

Great content. This narrator is awful choice

The content of this book is a great but the narrator is an awful choice. The narrator chose to read the book like a dramatic novel rather than Buddhist teachings

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  • Anonymous User
  • 2022-10-24

One of the best books I have ever read. Pema C. illuminates the world withher knowledge b

One of the best books I have ever read. Pema C. illuminates the world with her knowledge and compassion. Life changing book.

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  • t
  • 2023-03-03

Love this book about death

Surprisingly comforting. I’ll read it over and over again. Pema is a great teacher. Love this book.

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1 person found this helpful