Start Where You Are

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s h a m b h a l a l i b r a r y

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Start Where You Are
a g u i d e t o
c o m p a s s i o n a t e l i v i n g
Pe m a C h ö d r ö n
S h a m b h a l a
Boston
2004

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F r o n t i s p i e c e
: Gampo Abbey, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.
Photograph by Liza Matthews
S hambhala P ublications, I nc.
Horticultural Hall
300
Massachusetts Avenue
Boston, Massachusetts 02115
www.shambhala.com
© 1994 by Pema Chödrön
Translation of The Root Text of the Seven Points of Training the Mind 
© 1981, 1986 by Chögyam Trungpa; revised translation © 1993 by 
Diana J. Mukpo and the Na¯landa¯ Translation Committee. The 
Sa¯dhana of Ma¯hamudra¯ © 1968, 1976 by Chögyam Trungpa.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in 
any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including
photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and 
retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
The author’s proceeds from this book will be donated to Gampo Abbey,
Pleasant Bay, Nova Scotia, Canada b0e 2p0.
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p r i n t e d i n c h i n a
This edition is printed on acid-free paper that meets the 
American National Standards Institute z39.48 Standard.
Distributed in the United States by Random House, Inc.,
and in Canada by Random House of Canada Ltd
The Library of Congress catalogues the previous edition of this title as follows:
Chödrön, Pema.
Start where you are: a guide to compassionate living / Pema Chödrön.—1st ed.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references.
isbn 978-0-8348-2116-3
isbn 978-0-87773-880-0
(alk. paper)
isbn 978-1-57062-839-9
(pbk.)
isbn 978-1-59030-142-5
(Shambhala Library)
1
. Spiritual life—Buddhism. 2. Buddhism—China—Tibet—Doctrines.
I. Title.
bq7805.c49 1994
93-39135
294.3’444
—dc20 cip
e

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To my mother, Virginia, and 
my granddaughter, Alexandria

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vii
c o n t e n t s
Preface
ix
Acknowledgments
xiii
1
. No Escape, No Problem
1
2
. No Big Deal
12
3
. Pulling Out the Rug
20
4
. Let the World Speak for Itself
27
5
. Poison as Medicine
36
6
. Start Where You Are
44
7
. Bringing All That We Meet to the Path
60
8
. Drive All Blames into One
69
9
. Be Grateful to Everyone
77
10
. Cutting the Solidity of Thoughts
87
11
. Overcoming Resistance
97
12
. Empty Boat
109
13
. Teachings for Life and Death
115
14
. Loving-Kindness and Compassion
124
15
. Lighten Up
130
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. Abandon Any Hope of Fruition
136
17
. Compassionate Action
144

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. Taking Responsibility for 
156
Your Own Actions
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. Communication from the Heart
165
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. The Big Squeeze
175
21
. High-Stakes Practice
190
22
. Train Wholeheartedly
201
Appendix: The Root Text of the Seven