Taking the Leap

by Pema Chödrön

Shambhala Publications

  ~ Review in Halifax Herald, February 2010

There are times in all our lives when we put aside our personal barriers and meet strangers heart to heart, often after a time of great trauma.  “People say it was like that in New York City for a few weeks after September 11 . . . a city full of people reached out to one another, took care of one another, and had no trouble looking into one another’s eyes.”

This is not how we normally behave, says Pema Chödrön in her latest book Taking the Leap. We hide behind our daily habits as we resist change, becoming stuck in a “narrow, self-absorbed vision” of the world, hooked on repeating the patterns of our lives which have not necessarily served us well.  You can change this, she says.  It is possible to let go of grudges, and move away from aggression and pain to find within ourselves the kindness which heals. 

What makes this book remarkable is its simplicity, which is not to be confused with simple. Within this slim volume is a wisdom that speaks directly to the heart, without guile, without judgment, without need.  You can do this, she says, you can get unstuck and this is how.  She believes that this act of doing will profoundly impact those around us, rippling outward to turn aggression into compassion.  If we do this, she says, “the whole planet will rejoice.”

Pema Chödrön is a buddhist nun, teacher, and the author of many books, including When Things Fall Apart and Practicing Peace in Times of War.  In 1984 she became the director of Gampo Abbey in rural Cape Breton. This continues to be her home.