“Awakening Dignity is a beautiful and compelling practical guide to living a more fulfilling life—meaning a life filled with inner dignity.”
— Richard J. Davidson
Author of New York Times bestseller
The Emotional Life of Your Brain
Release Date: December 20, 2022
“In this book, Kyabgön Phakchok Rinpoche taps into the essence of fearless dignity and provides a step-by-step experiential process to gently clear away the layers of “clouds” (habitual patterns) that obscure certainty in our innate basic goodness. In this way, Rinpoche guides us to recognize our own true nature; he also deftly illustrates how such recognition is an essential first step in seeing this same fundamental nature in all beings. By providing the tools for stabilizing this clear view of unchanging reality, Rinpoche helps us cultivate the skillful means to treat ourselves and others with more awareness, loving-kindness, compassion, and wisdom. I wholeheartedly recommend this book for all who wish to find happiness and fulfillment in their lives.”
— Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche
We are excited to announce that Rinpoche’s newest book Awakening Dignity is now available for preorder.
Preorder with 30% off code AD30—Code valid on Shambhala.com through January 20, 2023. US shipping only. Enter code in shopping cart. Cannot be combined with other offers.
About Awakening Dignity
What does dignity mean for a dharma practitioner? Is it something others confer upon us? Or is it more fundamentally an intrinsic quality? Learning the essential meaning of dignity teaches us how to live a truly meaningful and deeply fulfilling life. It enables us to directly recognize and cultivate our authentic and unshakeable dignity.
Drawing from the Tibetan Buddhist wisdom tradition, Rinpoche uses the term “vajra pride” to convey the meaning of dignity in a unique and fresh way. In Rinpoche’s words:
The Sanskrit word vajra refers to the diamond—the sovereign of all stones. A diamond is so strong and solid it cannot be crushed. Unlike vajra pride, ordinary pride can easily be crushed. It is associated with negative emotion based on an inflated ego. When the ego is inflated, it can be easily punctured, like a balloon. This vulnerability leads us to devote a great deal of energy to protecting and cherishing the ego, a role that ordinary pride serves. Vajra pride, by contrast, is deeply rooted in our inherent pure nature. When we have vajra pride, we have nothing to prove, and we trust ourselves completely. We don’t make comparisons, nor do we succumb to feelings of superiority or inferiority. Vajra pride points to a foundational and unwavering inner strength and power devoid of the various wants, needs, and insecurities of ego pride. This is the reason why vajra pride is sometimes also known as “divine pride” or “stable pride.” When I speak of dignity in this book, I refer to the power that comes from knowing decisively that our heart is noble, our nature is inherently pure. We are whole and complete. It is the opposite of feeling that we are not enough. Dignity is not a passing state; it is an unwavering trust. This unwavering trust in ourselves acts as our protection against life’s ups and downs. It enables us to see situations clearly and respond appropriately. In dignity, we are not riddled with uncertainty and self-doubt. Rather, we can notice our own mistakes and correct them. It is a way of seeing, and it is a way of being.
— An excerpt from Awakening Dignity
In his characteristically compassionate, engaging, and direct way, Rinpoche provides inspiring advice, lively examples, and a progressive series of exercises called “dignity training” to help us contact, affirm, and cultivate our own inner dignity.
This book is based on traditional and authentic dharma and yet sensitive to our modern needs. It is accessible to all readers while nevertheless being profound in meaning.
- If you are new to dharma, this book gives you a clear introduction to what dharma is and how to embark on the path.
- If you are an experienced practitioner, this book offers guidance to clarify the path, check your own progress, and correct any mistakes you may be making.
