Come back to basics is about making and keeping a commitment to your mind training and writing practice. It’s about overcoming the tendency to get sidetracked by your ego and developing self-mastery instead. The original lojong slogan is: Always abide by the three basic principles which are: to keep your promises, to not act outrageously,… Continue reading Buddhist Writing Prompt: Come Back to Basics
Practice when you’re distracted is about remembering to be mindful of whatever is happening and not allowing yourself to get distracted. And when you do get distracted, to use the distractions as part of your practice. The original lojong slogan is: If you can practice even when distracted, you are well trained. When you sit… Continue reading Buddhist Writing Prompt: Practice When You’re Distracted
Always maintain a joyful mind is about not taking yourself too seriously and remembering that no matter what’s going on, you can have an optimistic approach to life. The original lojong slogan is more or less the same: Always maintain only a joyful mind. On the surface, it seems callous and simplistic to suggest that… Continue reading Buddhist Writing Prompt: Always Maintain A Joyful Mind
Trust yourself is about how only you can really know what’s right for you and whether you’re doing your best or not. Only you have a direct line to your deepest truth. The original lojong slogan is: Of the two witnesses, hold the principal one. The two witnesses are you and others, but you are… Continue reading Buddhist Writing Prompt: Trust Yourself
Get over yourself is about not letting your ego hijack whatever you’re doing, whether that’s mind training and meditation, or writing. It helps to get your ego out of the way and remember who you really are. The original lojong slogan is: All dharma agrees at one point, which means that all spiritual practices and… Continue reading Buddhist Writing Prompt: Get Over Yourself
Don’t waste your life is about facing up to your mortality and remembering not to take your life for granted. Your time is limited and life is precious. The original lojong slogan is: The mahayana instruction for ejection of consciousness at death is the five strengths: how you conduct yourself is important. The five strengths… Continue reading Buddhist Writing Prompt: Don’t Waste Your Life
Practice the Five Strengths is about taking your mind training practice and writing seriously, and finding a way to keep motivated and focused on what matters to you. The five strengths empower you to remember who you really are and to put it into practice every day. The original lojong slogan is: Practice the five… Continue reading Buddhist Writing Prompt: Practice the Five Strengths
Whatever you meet is the Path is about remembering to be mindful no matter what’s happening. Whatever appears in front of you, that’s what you need to be dealing with because anything you experience can be used to wake you up. The original lojong slogan is: Whatever you meet unexpectedly, join with meditation. When things… Continue reading Buddhist Writing Prompt: Whatever You Meet is the Path
Practice the four methods gives you four practical ways of being in the world that encourage you to face difficult emotions and situations rather than avoid them. These methods should form the foundation of your mind training practice. The original lojong slogan is: Four practices are the best of methods, and these are: Do good… Continue reading Buddhist Writing Prompt: Practice the Four Methods
Your true Self has the answer is about seeing how everything is interconnected and interdependent, and using this to wake up to your Buddha mind. In fact, underneath all the confusion, your ordinary day-to-day mind is Buddha mind. The original lojong slogan is: Seeing confusion as the four kayas is unsurpassable shunyata protection, which needs… Continue reading Buddhist Writing Prompt: Your true Self has the answer
Be grateful to everyone is about recognising that you’re dependent on everybody else for your existence. That’s not easy to accept, especially in relation to someone or something you don’t like. But mind training is about befriending those parts of yourself and others that you reject. The original lojong slogan is the same as my… Continue reading Buddhist Writing Prompt: Be grateful to everyone
Take responsibility is about not blaming others when things don’t go the way you hoped. Instead of looking for somebody else to blame, you can turn it around and take responsibility for your part in the drama. The original lojong slogan is: Drive all blames into one. This doesn’t mean you blame yourself or make… Continue reading Buddhist Writing Prompt: Take responsibility
Jessica Davidson 