Pema Chödrön is an American Buddhist teacher, author, nun and mother who inspires millions worldwide with her down-to-earth message of practicing peace in turbulent times.
She has written many wonderful books full of practical interpretations of Buddhism that can be applied to everyday life. One of my favorite is When Things Fall Apart, which helped me through a particularly turbulent time in my life. Here is a description: There is a fundamental opportunity for happiness right within our reach, yet we usually miss it – ironically while we are caught up in attempts to escape pain and suffering. Drawn from traditional Buddhist wisdom, Pema’s radical and compassionate advice for what to do when things fall apart in our lives goes against the grain of our usual habits and expectations. There is only one approach to suffering that is of lasting benefit, Pema teaches, and that approach involves moving toward painful situations with friendliness and curiosity, relaxing into the essential groundlessness of our entire situation. It is there, in the midst of chaos, that we can discover the truth and love that are indestructible.
You can find many wonderful books and audio downloads at the Pema Chodron Foundation website. Also, many free audio downloads are available here.