Start Where You Are audiobook cover - A Guide to Compassionate Living

Start Where You Are

A Guide to Compassionate Living

Pema Chödrön

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Mindfulness & Happiness

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Start Where You Are
Meditation Basics+
Cultivating Joy+
Embracing Emptiness+
Accepting Pain+
Befriending Demons+
Dropping Narratives+
Compassion for Others+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 10
What is the primary purpose of shamatha-vipashyana meditation as described in the text?
  • A. To achieve a state of deep sleep and physical rest.
  • B. To eliminate all thoughts permanently from the mind.
  • C. To bring tranquility and insight by focusing on the present moment.
  • D. To visualize a perfect future to manifest it into reality.
Question 2 of 10
How should a meditator handle a wandering mind during practice?
  • A. Punish themselves to train the mind for better discipline.
  • B. Calmly acknowledge it by saying "thinking" and return focus to the breath.
  • C. Force the mind back instantly by holding the breath.
  • D. Follow the thought to its logical conclusion before returning to the breath.
Question 3 of 10
In the context of the book, how is the Buddhist concept of "emptiness" (nirvana) best understood?
  • A. A negative state of lacking emotion and caring.
  • B. A pessimistic view of life where the glass is always half-empty.
  • C. A state of being free from judgments and labels like good or bad.
  • D. An intellectual void where one forgets their past memories.
Question 4 of 10
What does the text suggest is the proper approach to experiencing pain and negative emotions?
  • A. Acknowledge and feel them without growing attached or trying to avoid them.
  • B. Ignore them completely by focusing only on positive affirmations.
  • C. Repress them deeply so they do not interfere with daily life.
  • D. Isolate yourself from society until the negative emotions pass.
Question 5 of 10
According to the text, what are the "three poisons" that reveal our weaknesses?
  • A. Anger, sadness, and fear
  • B. Craving, aversion, and ignorance
  • C. Jealousy, apathy, and violence
  • D. Ego, attachment, and illusion
Question 6 of 10
What is the moral of the Tibetan story of Milarepa and the demons in his cave?
  • A. You can defeat your demons by lecturing them on compassion.
  • B. You should avoid places where demons and negative energies reside.
  • C. Accepting and getting close to your demons is the only way to make them go away.
  • D. Running away from your fears will eventually make you stronger.
Question 7 of 10
Why does the author suggest we break free from our personal "storylines" or fixed narratives?
  • A. Because our stories are usually stolen from other people's experiences.
  • B. So we can stop worrying about looking foolish and live freely in the present.
  • C. To help us create a more impressive and heroic persona to show others.
  • D. Because focusing on our past prevents us from setting strict future goals.
Question 8 of 10
How is the practice of tonglen breathing performed?
  • A. By breathing in positive energy and breathing out negative energy.
  • B. By holding the breath to build internal heat and burning away impurities.
  • C. By breathing in pain and suffering, and breathing out strength and happiness.
  • D. By breathing rapidly to induce a state of hyper-oxygenated trance.
Question 9 of 10
Why does the text advise dropping the strict labels of "helper" and "helpee"?
  • A. Because helping others is ultimately a distraction from personal enlightenment.
  • B. Because true meditation requires complete isolation from other people's problems.
  • C. Because the person being helped usually resents the interference.
  • D. Because seeing yourself as a saintly helper creates a barrier and added separation between you and others.
Question 10 of 10
What does the text's actionable advice suggest you do when a happy memory comes to mind?
  • A. Write it down in a journal to preserve it forever.
  • B. Cling to it so you can use it to block out negative thoughts later.
  • C. Take a deep breath and pass that happiness on to someone who needs it.
  • D. Try to recreate the exact circumstances of that memory in the present day.

Start Where You Are — Full Chapter Overview

Start Where You Are Summary & Overview

Start Where You Are (1994) is an enlightening guide to opening up your heart and mind and learning to feel happier in your skin. Discover the practices that bring calm and serenity to Buddhist monks and nuns, as well as the philosophy that puts people on the path to nirvana. This isn’t advice about what incense and candles to buy; it shows you how to look deep within yourself to confront your demons and find strength in your weaknesses.

Who Should Listen to Start Where You Are?

  • Spiritual people interested in Buddhism and meditation
  • Anyone who wants fewer regrets and fears
  • Those struggling with anger management

About the Author: Pema Chödrön

Pema Chödrön is a resident teacher of Buddhism at Gampo Abbey, America’s oldest Tibetan monastery. In 1981, she became the first American to be made a bhikkhunī or a fully ordained nun in the Vajrayana tradition. She has also authored several best-selling books, including The Wisdom of No Escape and When Things Fall Apart.

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