Always train with the slogans encourages you to apply the practice of mind training to everything in your life. The slogans can be used with almost anything, it’s not just about meditation. It was this slogan that gave me the idea for the book this series is based on. The original lojong slogan is: In… Continue reading Buddhist Writing Prompt: Always Train with the Slogans
Our story continues: the queen is healing in the forest with her child, but what of the king… Soon after the queen left the castle, the king returned from the war, but the queen and his child weren’t there waiting for him. He asked his mother where they were. She was furious with him, and… Continue reading The Handless Maiden part 7: Inner Marriage
Your problems are your gifts is about working with your problems rather than trying to get rid of them or avoid them. It builds on the previous slogan and the practice of tonglen in order to transform suffering into happiness. The original lojong slogan is: Three objects, three poisons, and three seeds of virtue, which… Continue reading Buddhist Writing Prompt: Your Problems Are Your Gifts
Our story continues: the queen with silver hands has given birth, but all is not well… The queen and her son were no longer safe in the castle, and so, with the baby bound to her breast, the queen bid farewell to the king’s mother. Weeping, she left the castle and returned to the forest.… Continue reading The Handless Maiden part 6: Wandering and Waiting
Practice sending and receiving is the instruction for practising tonglen meditation where you’re encouraged to move towards pain and suffering with an open and compassionate heart in order to heal. The original lojong slogan is: Sending and taking should be practised alternately. These two should ride the breath. Sending and taking, or receiving, refers to… Continue reading Buddhist Writing Prompt: Practice Sending and Receiving
Our story continues: the maiden has become a queen with silver hands… The queen stayed in the castle and the king lavished her with love and care. But in time, he had to leave to wage war in a distant land. Before he left, the king asked his mother to take care of the queen,… Continue reading The Handless Maiden part 5: The Devil Returns
Play in the dream reminds you to apply what you learn while meditating to the rest of your life. Mind training isn’t just about meditation; the idea is to put what you learn to practical use in order to make life better for yourself and others. The original lojong slogan is: In post-meditation, be a… Continue reading Buddhist Writing Prompt: Play in the Dream
Our story continues: the maiden has found her way to the king’s orchard… The next day, the king was walking in his garden, counting his pears, for he knew exactly how many were on each tree, when he realised that one was missing. He called the gardener and questioned him. The gardener explained to the… Continue reading The Handless Maiden part 4: Love in the Underworld
Rest in beginner’s mind encourages you to meditate and rest in the awareness you discovered in slogan 3. So if you don’t already have a regular meditation practice, now would be a good time to begin. The original lojong slogan is: Rest in the nature of alaya, the essence. Alaya is the essence of consciousness,… Continue reading Buddhist Writing Prompt: Rest in Beginner’s Mind
Our story continues: the deal has been made and the maiden has lost her hands… The devil retreated to the forest and the maiden’s parents did their best to care for their daughter. Her father begged her to stay, promising to provide everything she could ever want or need, but she refused. She had her… Continue reading The Handless Maiden part 3: Entering the Forest
Don’t hold on to your stories reminds you to let go of your ideas about reality and yourself. It’s also about not taking these slogans too seriously. They’re just ideas or thoughts in your mind. They may be useful tools, but it’s important not to get too attached to them. The original lojong slogan is:… Continue reading Buddhist Writing Prompt: Don’t Hold on to Your Stories
Our story continues: the deal has been made and three years have passed… At last, the dreadful day arrived when the devil would come to claim his payment: the maiden. That morning, the girl washed and drew a circle around herself with chalk. The devil appeared, but couldn’t come near her. Furious, he demanded she… Continue reading The Handless Maiden part 2: Dismemberment
Jessica Davidson 