Start Where You Are: A Guide to Compassionate Living

242 Pages·2010·1 MB·English

by  Pema Chödrön

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shambhala library
Start Where You Are
a guide to
compassionate living
Pema Chödrön
Shambhala
Boston
2004
Frontispiece: Gampo Abbey, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.
Photograph by Liza Matthews
Shambhala Publications, Inc.
Horticultural Hall
300 Massachusetts Avenue
Boston, Massachusetts 02115
www.shambhala.com
© 1994 by Pema Chödrön
Translation of The Root Text of the Seven Points of Training the Mind
© 1981, 1986 by Chögyam Trungpa; revised translation © 1993 by
Diana J. Mukpo and the Na¯landa¯ Translation Committee. The
Sa¯dhana of Ma¯hamudra¯ © 1968, 1976 by Chögyam Trungpa.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in
any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including
photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and
retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
The author’s proceeds from this book will be donated to Gampo Abbey,
Pleasant Bay, Nova Scotia, Canada b0e 2p0.
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2
printed in china
This edition is printed on acid-free paper that meets the
American National Standards Institute z39.48 Standard.
Distributed in the United States by Random House, Inc.,
and in Canada by Random House of Canada Ltd
The Library of Congress catalogues the previous edition of this title as follows:
Chödrön, Pema.
Start where you are: a guide to compassionate living/Pema Chödrön.—1st ed.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references.
eisbn 978-0-8348-2116-3
isbn 978-0-87773-880-0 (alk. paper)
isbn 978-1-57062-839-9 (pbk.)
isbn 978-1-59030-142-5 (Shambhala Library)
1. Spiritual life—Buddhism. 2. Buddhism—China—Tibet—Doctrines.
I. Title.
bq7805.c49 1994 93-39135
294.3’444—dc20 cip
To my mother, Virginia, and
my granddaughter, Alexandria
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c o n t e n t s
Preface ix
Acknowledgments xiii
1. No Escape, No Problem 1
2. No Big Deal 12
3. Pulling Out the Rug 20
4. Let the World Speak for Itself 27
5. Poison as Medicine 36
6. Start Where You Are 44
7. Bringing All That We Meet to the Path 60
8. Drive All Blames into One 69
9. Be Grateful to Everyone 77
10. Cutting the Solidity of Thoughts 87
11. Overcoming Resistance 97
12. Empty Boat 109
13. Teachings for Life and Death 115
14. Loving-Kindness and Compassion 124
15. Lighten Up 130
16. Abandon Any Hope of Fruition 136
17. Compassionate Action 144
vii
viii Contents
18. Taking Responsibility for 156
Your Own Actions
19. Communication from the Heart 165
20. The Big Squeeze 175
21. High-Stakes Practice 190
22. Train Wholeheartedly 201
Appendix: The Root Text of the Seven
Points of Training the Mind 207
Bibliography 213
Resources 215
Index of Slogans 219