Feeding Your Demons: Ancient Wisdom for Resolving Inner Conflict

I have used this book to deal with prostate cancer. It has been the most effective treatment in dealing with the emotional dis-regulation that comes from having something physically wrong within you, and from having no easy path to deal with it . There are many demons surrounding illness, but the unknown remains the most troublesome for me. This technique of feeding the demons has gotten me through some long nights. As a psychotherapist I find I can drop right into the visualizations without much effort. As a former Zen monk, I can realize the message behind Tsultrim's teaching. I find it easier to move my ego out of the way, but still have enough executive functioning to attend to my cancer treatment. I like the fact that healing comes from within and is processed in a receptive feminine way. Western medicine goes looking for a cure, grabs it, and takes a masculine stance. I find both approaches to be compatible. I attended a one day workshop with the author in NYC, and wish her Dharma Center were closer. I would love to study with her. I have met many of the well known teachers of meditation in the US, and the author appears to me to be the real thing. I have watched her grow with her practice. During a recent trip to Tibet, she sent descriptive emails back to her students. Her insight and transparency were evident in those letters. I don't think anyone needs a Buddhist background to access her techniques. All that is required is a willingness to try.

Great book! Highly recommend

This book is an excellent little tome which describes a simple five-step process created by Lama Tsultrim Allione to present the essence of Chöd, the Tibetan practice of feeding the demons to achieve liberation from them. The practice itself is simple, yet as all things related to our Shadow, there is much to be known as well. I especially liked knowing more about Machig Lapdrön from whom the Chöd pracitce comes, and knowing more about the many different kinds of 'demon' that she described in her writings almost a thousand years ago.Machig Lapdrön said that 'a demon is anything which stands in the way of our liberation", and in this book and in this practice, I am learning how to meet these demons, gods and god-demons, and am learning how to transform them into ally energies that help me rather than hinder me. The practice is simple. The results are astounding. If you are looking for inner work that is completely transformational, buy this and begin feeding your demons today.

Love this book. The healing exercise really works for me. I use feeding your demons along side other healing exercises, as I have found it wise to have more then one healing method in your back pocket to carry around with you where ever you go.I like how the author starts out by telling the story of how she discovered the exercise and when it started to work for her, giving examples along the way. The author then takes you step by step how to do the exercise and has you ask yourself questions to help you along. She then goes on to describe some of the most common demons. This is just a wonderful book. I am thrilled that I got this book in hardcover so can last for years to come.

Since she first glimpsed Buddhist lives and practice over 40 years ago at age 19, Lama Tsultrim has devoted herself not only to her own practice but also to finding ways to bring this joy, compassion and devotion to others. In this jewel of a book she offers those experiences to benefit people who may never resonate with Buddhism or Tibet, but who do notice our lifes' continuing struggles, the world's distresses, and our deep longing for ways to nurture less conflict and more hope. The book offers a way for anyone to turn toward that distress and longing, elegantly and skillfully placing this remarkable meditation practice in a modern, Western framework. So whatever your own spiritual inclinations are, whatever form your personal 'demons' may take, however you're thinking about war and peace and disharmony in the world, you'll find an ally here - in the practice, in the stories, and in the remarkable woman who brought us this book.

I have found the perspective of Feeding Your Demons to be insightful and wise and the technique itself to be invaluable. Over the years I have explored and benefited from both meditation, yoga and breathing practices from the East as well as various psychological insights and practices from the West. With Feeding Your Demons, I am experiencing the result of a beautiful melding of the wisdom of both orientations.Even before trying the process itself, I found that just reading the book brought a way of seeing myself and my life that was richly rewarding. I felt some doubt about my ability to do the technique, though, because I don't visualize easily or well (visualization being part of the process). But the good news is that even without clear visualization, I have grown to trust and feel comfortable with my own way of experiencing the technique (it is usually more a feeling sense than `seeing') because of the positive changes that have come from each session!Thank you Tsultrim!

While Chod is not really demonology, Lama Tsultrim Allione's presentation of the practice largely in metaphorical and archetypal terms does seem to render the practice largely in terms of self-help. While I do think this part of the intention of traditional Chod practice and many of the more esoteric require formal empowerment to understand and incorporate in practice, this does seem to be a distinct watering down of the practice. The self-help and inspirational style will be quite useful to people as Lama Tsultrim Allione does a lot with incorporating biographical and autobiographical anecdotes to make her Jungian readings (and possible appropriation of neuro-linguistic programming) of Tibetan Buddhism/Bon practices approachable but it also modernizes them.

This is a great read. Useful tactics, interesting points. I would highly recommend to anyone on a self help journey

This is a remarkable book. As a therapist and author with an interest in acceptance, I had high hopes for this book. And it did not disappoint!Based on the practice of Chod, the ideas and method outlined in this book feel contemporary and cutting-edge. Yet, they are filled with years of practice and wisdom, reflecting an ancient tradition that I for one am delighted to see receiving a breath of new life.

A powerful technique for liberating yourself from fears and negativity based on the ancient practice of Chod from Tibet. Your demons are your fears and blind spots, negative emotions and self-defeating patterns of behaviour – in other words, your shadow. It seems counterintuitive to feed your demons, but it makes a lot of sense. Rather than denying or repressing difficult emotions, you turn towards them and make friends with them. That way, you can discover the real reason the demon was created and so heal the problem. If you try to attack your demons head on, they’ll fight back and cause more problems. But when you feed them, you treat them with compassion and understanding, and then they become your friends.Full of useful examples and guidance on how to befriend your worst enemy - you!

Very much enjoyed this book.The author provides the basis for her teachings/ideas then fully explains the processes involved as well as providing accounts of how this may work or has worked for others.If you are interested in psychology, emotional freedom techniques, CBT etc., then this is an interesting approach that many will recognise that has it's roots deep in history.If you are interested in self awareness, self healing and self improvement then this will provide you with food for thought and new techniques for self help.

I'm a long term sufferer of Agoraphobia, Anxiety and Panic attacks. And while I'm sure most people in these labels turn to Anxiety self help books, I'm so glad that I step out that corridor and landed in the Buddhism isle.This Book is amazing, the Practice to face your fears is well worth trying.I faced my Panic demon and although I was terrified of seeing it, I fed it, and afterwards I have felt Great, ok...I'm not cured but it has helped at least 80% of my fears, and it's now a practice I do when other Demons show up in my life.Well worth the Buy.

This book is an interesting take on the ancient Tibetan meditation practice called Chöd from an accomplished teacher of the traditional form. However, this book does not present Chöd as it is traditionally done by Tibetan Buddhists. That usually involves ritual instruments, complex visualizations, chanting in Tibetan and initial empowerment by a recognized teacher.Instead Lama Tsultrim has taken the core principle of Chöd, that of "feeding our demons" - or working in compassionate way with our neuroses, and created a practice that can be done by non-Buddhists. Although the practice presented here is not Buddhist in form, practitioners of the traditional Chöd forms may also find it interesting for the light it sheds on the key psychological processes that underpin traditional forms and the deep understanding of the practice that the author clearly has. Yes, it can be a bit "self-helpy" in places which may put off some more traditional Chöd practitioners, but bear with it, as there are some really interesting insights too.