Summary of Pema Chödrön's Welcoming the Unwelcome

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Sample Book Insights: #1 When you read spiritual teachings, it is important to know your intentions. You may have any number of good reasons for reading this or any book, but in the Mahayana Buddhist tradition, your aim is to fully awaken your heart and mind to help others. #2 Bodhichitta is the commitment to free ourselves from all our varieties of confusion and unconscious habit and suffering, because these prevent us from being fully there for others. It is a big task, and it will require reading books, listening to teachings, and deeply contemplating what we study. #3 When we generate bodhichitta, we go against the grain of our natural tendency to shield ourselves from pain and fear. We allow ourselves to experience our own raw feelings, without getting sucked into our thoughts and stories about them. #4 We all have the natural human tendency to look for happiness and to protect ourselves from pain. These motivations keep us from becoming more connected with our own hearts and with the hearts of others.