5. Rest in the nature of alaya, the essence. The Yogācāra or “mind-only” tenet system of Mahayana Buddhism teaches about the eight consciousnesses. The first five are the sense consciousnesses: visual (eye), auditory (ear), olfactory (nose), taste (tongue), touch (body). The sixth is the mental consciousness that governs and integrates the first five, as well …
23. Whatever you meet unexpectedly, join with meditation. This slogan is a reminder that the only path out of my habitual experiences is through them. When I encounter something unexpected, I can let it stop my mind. Then I can notice the moment of bewilderment, astonishment and space and let myself rest in this gap …
6. In post-meditation, be a child of illusion. This is the final absolute bodhicitta slogan. It deals with the post-meditation experience, which is essentially everything that happens off the cushion. Trungpa Rinpoche writes, “Being a child of illusion means that you continue what you have experienced in your sitting practice…into postmeditation experience.” You continue to …
24. Of the two witnesses, hold the principal one. The “two witnesses” are my view of myself and others’ view of me. The “principal one” is my view of myself. This slogan reminds me that I’m the only one who really knows myself, whether it’s the shiny parts that I like and want to show …
7. Sending and taking should be practiced alternately. These two should ride the breath. This slogan refers to the practice of Tonglen (literally “sending and taking”), a formal meditation practice. Tonglen is a revolutionary practice of exchanging self for others; in Pema Chödrön’s words it “reverses the logic of ego.” My typical, habitual response to …
25. Whichever of the two occurs, be patient. Whether I feel joy or suffering (“the two”), this slogan encourages me to just experience what’s happening in the moment (“be patient”), rather than become caught up in my habitual patterns of grasping what I like and pushing away what I don’t like. I can view whatever …
8. Begin the sequence of sending and taking with yourself. This slogan reminds me that I am part of “all beings” and thus my benefit is important too. This is a way to begin to make friends with the messy parts of my life, developing kindness and compassion for myself in order to cultivate it …
9. Three objects, three poisons, and three seeds of virtue. With this slogan, we encounter the idea that whatever we experience can be part of the path of compassion and awakening. The three objects are things we like, things we dislike, and things about which we are neutral. The three poisons are our habitual responses to these three …
10. In all activities, train with slogans. Slogans are pithy reminders that bring our minds back in contact with the dharma. They are simple and easy to remember and contain wisdom much deeper than just the words. The more I train with the Lojong slogans, the more likely I am to remember them when it …
11. Train in the three difficulties. This is the first slogan in the Third Point of Mind Training, The Skillful Means for Practicing Bodhicitta, Which is the Three Difficulties. Training in the three difficulties is the practical application of all the Lojong teachings, offering a path for bringing the teachings to life every day. The …