Phakchok Rinpoche

Phakchok Rinpoche is a popular and beloved Tibetan Buddhist master with a teaching style that is at once unique, dynamic, and engaging. Born in Kathmandu, Nepal, Rinpoche was recognized soon after birth—at the early age of one—as a reincarnated Buddhist master. Having undergone formal education and training in Buddhist philosophy and meditation, Rinpoche travels the world teaching in Buddhist centers, universities, and monasteries. With sharp insight into our contemporary global culture, he contextualizes and demonstrates the relevance of ancient meditative practice to our time.

Sophie Wu

Sophie (Shu-Chin) Wu, PhD, is associate professor of history at Agnes Scott College. Trained in Chinese intellectual history at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, she teaches Asian history and philosophy, including Buddhism. As a longtime student of Buddhism, Sophie is a meditation instructor for Phakchok Rinpoche’s organization.

Daniel Goleman

Daniel Goleman, PhD, has twice been nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. He is the author of numerous books, including Emotional Intelligence, Working with Emotional Intelligence, The Meditative Mind, and Primal Leadership: Realizing the Power of Emotional Intelligence.

"An extraordinary and invaluable guide to life and practice by a meditation master whose great compassion has brought the dharma to our everyday lives." —Roshi Joan Halifax, author of Standing at the Edge and abbot of Upaya Zen Center

"In this delightfully engaging book, renowned teacher Phakchok Rinpoche teams up with scholar and longtime student of Rinpoche Sophie Wu to offer us an entirely accessible yet truly profound exploration of dignity as stable confidence in our own true nature. Awakening and cultivating our innate dignity cures us of feelings of low self-esteem, inadequacy, self-doubt, and incompleteness. With ‘dignity training’ exercises—contemplative practices that help us to touch and grow our innate dignity—along with edifying stories and lively examples, this is a jewel of a text, and genuine medicine for what ails us." —Jan Willis, PhD, author of Dreaming Me: Black, Baptist, and Buddhist and Dharma Matters: Women, Race, and Tantra

"Phakchok Rinpoche has been practicing the deepest part of his tradition in retreat and experiencing the essence of authentic Dharma. In Awakening Dignity, Phakchok Rinpoche combines his depth of understanding with his sharpness and ease to offer profound teachings in an open, easily understood way." —Tsoknyi Rinpoche, author of Open Heart, Open Mind

"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 and deftly illustrates how such recognition is an essential first step in seeing the 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, The New York Times best-selling author of The Joy of Living

"Dignity is something we all possess but may not readily understand or recognize as being part of our true nature. Awakening Dignity offers teachings and practices that help us see and deal with any obstacles in our way. Written with clarity and a pertinent connection to our daily lives, you don't need to be a Buddhist to gain insight from this lovely book." —Sharon Salzberg, author of Lovingkindness and Real Change

"Awakening Dignity is a beautiful, compelling, and practical guide to living a more fulfilling life—meaning a life filled with inner dignity. Phakchok Rinpoche, along with his student and coauthor Sophie Wu, guides readers in a highly accessible, step-by-step fashion—and offers simple ‘dignity training’ meditation exercises to help readers incorporate the teachings into their lives." —Richard J. Davidson, The New York Times best-selling author of The Emotional Life of Your Brain

"A hopeful and easily accessible handbook written with clarity and authenticity, for those interested in exploring Buddhist teachings or simply hoping to improve the quality of their own lives and the lives of others." —Library Journal

"Readers will appreciate the accessible prose and the authors’ compassionate tone. This enlightening outing delivers." —Publishers Weekly

"Accessible language and warm delivery make this book a worthwhile read. Like a parental hug reminding one that we are in safe hands, that we are loved, and that we are inherently luminous. . . . We are the clear, radiant light at the center of the storm. And that is the message of this gently and beautifully offered book." —Buddhistdoor Global