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
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
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
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
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
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
Examine the nature of awareness asks you to turn your attention inwards and notice who is aware of your experience. If you want to train your mind you first need to understand how it works and who is doing all this thinking. The original lojong slogan is: Examine the nature of unborn awareness. When you… Continue reading Buddhist Writing Prompt: Examine the Nature of Awareness
See everything as a dream is about letting go and not trying to control reality. After facing up to the facts of life and death in Slogan 1, you can see how everything is always changing and impermanent, so the best thing to do is to go with the flow. The original lojong slogan is:… Continue reading Buddhist Writing Prompt: See Everything as a Dream
First, remember the basics is about the intention behind starting something new. Your intentions lay the foundation for everything you do, so your reasons for doing something are important and will determine how things turn out. The original lojong slogan is: First, train in the preliminaries. This refers to the four basic facts of life… Continue reading Buddhist Writing Prompt: First, Remember the Basics
Jessica Davidson 