Living with
Vulnerability
A Training in Making Friends with Your Mind
What if your most difficult emotions weren't obstacles — but doorways?
We are, by our very nature, vulnerable beings.
We resist what makes us uncomfortable. When feelings of vulnerability arise — whether from loss, fear, uncertainty, or self-criticism — we instinctively put up walls. We get busy, distract ourselves, or turn our discomfort into an inner story about everything that's wrong with us.
But vulnerability isn't a flaw to fix. And no matter how skillfully we try to avoid it, it finds us.
In the Buddhist contemplative tradition, Pema Chödrön teaches that our fundamental nature is one of openness — wide awake, tender, and capable of immense love. The suffering we experience doesn't come from feeling vulnerable. It comes from the relentless effort to push it away.
What would it mean to stop fighting that — and start working with it?
Right there — that exact moment when you want to run.Pema Chödrön
That's the doorway.
A different relationship with what's hard
What if you could meet your most difficult emotions with genuine curiosity instead of dread?
What if vulnerability became the very ground of real connection, courage, and self-knowledge?
What if your relationship with your own mind could become one of warmth rather than warfare?
This is what Pema Chödrön has spent her life teaching. And it's the heart of this online training.
- 01Embrace difficult emotions rather than pushing them away
- 02Develop what Pema calls "discomfort resilience" — the capacity to stay present when things get hard
- 03Learn to use your challenges as sources of insight and growth
- 04Befriend your weaknesses with compassion rather than judgment
- 05Deepen your relationships by showing up with greater openness and honesty
- 06Stay present to whatever arises — and discover the aliveness in that awareness
Guidance from two of the most trusted voices in contemplative practice
Pema Chödrön
One of the most beloved and widely trusted teachers of Tibetan Buddhism in the Western world. She is the author of When Things Fall Apart, The Wisdom of No Escape, The Places That Scare You, and many other works that have offered guidance and solace to millions.
What makes Pema extraordinary is not only her depth of knowledge but her honesty. Without softening the truth or offering easy comfort, she meets us exactly where we are — and shows us a path that is genuinely available to ordinary human beings.
Tim Olmsted
Tim has dedicated his life to making these teachings accessible. He served for three years as the director of Gampo Abbey and is the founder and president of the Pema Chödrön Foundation.
Tim brings warmth, precision, and deep practical wisdom to his role in this training — helping to translate Pema's insights into embodied, everyday practice.
Listen to a dialogue with Pema on the power of vulnerability
Tami Simon, founder of Sounds True, sat down with Pema Chödrön for a candid and deeply moving conversation. Pema explores why we resist vulnerability, what actually happens when we stay present with what arises, and how this choice changes everything.
Everything you need to begin and sustain your practice
Complete Video Curriculum
In-depth video teachings with Pema Chödrön and Tim Olmsted, organized as a step-by-step learning path you can move through at your own pace.
Guided Meditation Audios
Pema's own guided practices — companions to the core teachings, available whenever you need them: in the morning, before sleep, in moments of difficulty.
Journaling Exercises
Thoughtful prompts designed to help you bring the teachings into your actual life, your relationships, and your daily moments.
Lifetime Access
Return to the course whenever you need it — to enrich your understanding or further benefit from the practices. Yours to keep.
One Month of Sounds True One
A special gift with your enrollment: free access to our digital membership platform, including a featured Mystics Today episode with Pema Chödrön.
One-Year Satisfaction Guarantee
We unconditionally guarantee your satisfaction. If you complete at least half the course and aren't 100% satisfied, we'll refund your purchase.
Begin the practice — at a special introductory price
Both options include immediate access to the complete curriculum, guided meditations, journaling exercises, and your free month of Sounds True One.
Questions, answered
Do I need a background in Buddhism or meditation to benefit from this course?
Not at all. Pema draws from the Buddhist contemplative traditions, but her gift — and her life's work — has been translating these teachings into language and practice that is accessible to anyone. Many students come to this course with no prior meditation experience and find that it opens something entirely new in them.
How is the program structured?
This is a pre-recorded, self-paced course you can engage with at your own pace. Many participants have found one in-depth video session per week ideal, while engaging with the guided audio meditations and journaling a few times per week or more.
As Pema teaches here and elsewhere, while leaning into discomfort is essential to growth, always do so with kindness and care for yourself.
When does the program begin?
Upon purchase, you'll receive immediate access to course materials to begin today.
Is this program a form of therapy?
No, this program is not intended to diagnose or treat any physical or mental health condition or be a substitute for therapy with a qualified, licensed mental health clinician. This program can be considered complementary to one-on-one therapy and other psychotherapy modalities.
How long will I have access to program materials?
You will receive lifetime access to all course materials. There are no renewal fees, no membership required to maintain access, and no expiration date.
What is your refund policy?
We unconditionally guarantee your satisfaction with all Sounds True products for one year when purchased via our website. If you complete at least half of Pema's course (to give it a fair try) and are not 100% satisfied with your purchase, simply call or email us for a full refund.
Are there scholarships or financial aid available?
Yes, Sounds True offers a limited number of partial and full scholarships to people in genuine financial need. You can apply for partial or full financial aid here.
I need tech support or program access instructions. Where can I find help?
If you have any questions, please visit our Help Center to find answers to commonly asked questions.
What is the Sounds True One membership, and how does it work?
Sounds True One is our digital membership platform — a community of fellow seekers, featuring teachings and guided practices from many of the world's most respected teachers. Your free month gives you access to a vast collection of teachings, including a special episode of the video docuseries Mystics Today featuring Pema Chödrön.
- Your free trial begins the moment you enroll.
- After 30 days, you'll be automatically billed $19.99 USD per month.
- You can cancel anytime during your trial with no questions asked and no charge.
- Even if you cancel, you'll still have full lifetime access to your course.
- If you prefer not to receive this 30-day membership, you can remove it from your cart during checkout.
Begin your journey toward
greater openness
We tend to think of vulnerability as something to overcome — a weakness to push past on the way to strength.
Pema Chödrön invites us into a different possibility entirely: that vulnerability, met with warmth and presence, is the very path to the life we're looking for.
This training is an invitation to stop resisting and "armoring up" — and to discover the joy and freedom that unfolds when we let life in.