The revered Buddhist teacher and author of When Things Fall Apart presents the lojong teachings--pithy slogans for daily contemplation--and the ways in which they can enrich our lives Welcome compassion and fearlessness as your guide and you ll live wisely and effectively in good times and bad. But that s easier said than done. In The Compassion Book Pema Chödrön introduces a powerful transformative method to nurture these qualities using a practice called lojong which has been a primary focus of her teachings and personal practice for many years. For centuries Tibetan Buddhists have relied on these teachings to awaken the deep goodness that lies within us. The lojong teachings include fifty-nine pithy slogans for daily contemplation such as Always maintain only a joyful mind Don t be swayed by external circumstances Don t try to be the fastest and Be grateful to everyone. This book presents each of these slogans and includes Pema s clear succinct guidance on how to understand them--and how they can enrich our lives. It also features a forty-five-minute downloadable audio program entitled Opening the Heart in which Pema offers in-depth instruction on tonglen meditation a powerful practice that anyone can undertake to awaken compassion for oneself and others.