This is the final extract from Free Your Pen: Mind Training for Writers. In the last post we looked at how to practice with the slogans in general. Here we look at one slogan in depth – first by exploring the original teachings and then applying the slogan to writing. Slogan 1: First, remember the… Continue reading Free Your Pen: Applying Lojong Slogans to Writing
Continuing the extracts from Free Your Pen: Mind Training for Writers. In the last post we looked at the traditional practice of lojong and its teachings. Here we explore how to apply the slogans to writing and daily life in this extract from chapter three: How to Practice with the Slogans If you want to… Continue reading Free Your Pen: How to use Lojong Slogans in your Writing
Continuing the extracts from Free Your Pen: Mind Training for Writers. In the last few posts we explored why the mind is such an unruly place and what we can do about it. Now we dig deeper into the source of mind training practice and look at some of the ideas that underpin the teachings… Continue reading Free Your Pen: Lojong for Writers
Continuing the extracts from Free Your Pen: Mind Training for Writers. Last time we looked at the how the ego and its shadow causes most of your problems as a writer. Here we explore the solution in this final extract from chapter one: The Courage to Write Writing is a leap of faith. You never… Continue reading Free Your Pen: Finding the Courage to Write
Continuing the extracts from Free Your Pen: Mind Training for Writers. Last time we looked at why mastering your mind is so important. In this post we’ll have a closer look at the real cause of the problem with another extract from chapter one: Meet Your Mind Although everybody writes for different reasons, the fears… Continue reading Free Your Pen: The Real Cause of All Your Problems
Last time I introduced my book on mind training for writers, Free Your Pen. In this post, we’ll delve deeper into why mastering your mind is so important with an extract from chapter one: Why Train the Mind? Have you ever sat down to write and found that your mind has gone totally blank? Or… Continue reading Free Your Pen: The Importance of Mind Training for Writers
What does it take to be a writer? The one thing that all writers have in common is very simple: they write. But more than that, a writer writes – no matter what. It seems obvious, but it’s the ‘no matter what’ that causes all the problems. To be a writer it helps if you… Continue reading How to Free your Pen: Mind Training for Writers
Today I’m celebrating the release of my latest book, Free Your Pen: Mind Training for Writers. It’s been a long and convoluted journey, and for a while I thought this day would never arrive. I wanted to write the book for years. Life had other ideas, as life usually does. But the book is here,… Continue reading Abandon Hope and other crazy advice
Right Concentration is the final practice of Mental Discipline on the Eightfold Path and is about disciplining the mind to see reality as it is. It’s also known as Right Meditation or Samadhi, and is the practice of focusing your mind on one thing until you’ve reached meditative absorption or jhana. Samadhi means concentration, and… Continue reading The Eightfold Path: Right Concentration
Right Effort is the first practice in Mental Discipline on the Eightfold Path and is also known as Right Diligence. This practice supports all the others because it gives you the energy to keep practising, even through difficulties. It involves cultivating a positive attitude and cheerful determination on your quest for freedom from suffering. Right… Continue reading The Eightfold Path: Right Effort
You may find this hard to believe, but your mind is a puppy. Train it well, treat it with respect, and you’ll have a lifetime of devoted service sitting between your ears. Wet nose optional. Let me explain. Writing is hard work. It’s even harder if you have no control over the most important tool… Continue reading Mind Training with the Puppy Technique
Jessica Davidson 