The Problem with Pema Chödrön

“Leaning in” to vulnerability, or coping with abuse?

Pema Chodron in 2007. cello8, Creative Commons.

In the alternative spirituality universe, few figures exude emotional gravitas like Pema Chödrön. Whether from her rugged retreat centre in Cape Breton, or from the solarium of Oprah’s Montecito mansion, Chödrön preaches a message of receptivity, acceptance, and the need to recognize melancholy as a gateway to empathy.