Summary: Working with the slogans
Although the word slogan is often associated with advertising or with political campaigns, the origin of the word comes from the Scottish for “war cry.” If you imagine that you are in a battle with distraction, confusion, and self-absorption, then like a war cry, the appropriate slogan is designed to abruptly interrupt your discursiveness and call you to attention. [Read more…] about Summary — Working with the Slogans
59: Don’t Expect Applause
SLOGAN 59 • Don’t expect applause.
Now that you have studied all these slogans, don’t expect anyone to congratulate you! In fact it is a good idea to look at how much we keep looking for recognition altogether. It can be embarrassing, but often, as soon as we do anything of note, it is as if we were little children at a playground shouting. “Watch me, mama! Look at me! Look what I can do!” And when whatever we have done is not acknowledged or recognized, how quickly we get puffy and upset. [Read more…] about 59: Don’t Expect Applause
58: Don’t Be Frivolous
SLOGAN 58 • Don’t be frivolous.
To work with this slogan, it is necessary to look at how you spend your time, what you think about, and how your invest your energy. It is easy to fritter away your time in frivolous pursuits that do not lead anywhere. But living in this way is like eating junk food: it is ultimately unsatisfying. [Read more…] about 58: Don’t Be Frivolous
57: Don’t Be Jealous
SLOGAN 57 • Don’t be jealous.
This slogan is not only about jealousy, but also about overall irritability. If your meditation practice or mind training is making you even more irritable and touchy than before, something is off. You should be less susceptible to jealousy and irritability, not more so. [Read more…] about 57: Don’t Be Jealous
56: Don’t Wallow in Self-Pity
SLOGAN 56 • Don’t wallow in self-pity.
When your practice is not going well, or you feel it is too hard, you may begin to regret undertaking it in the first place. It is easy to start to feel sorry for yourself. The anti-lojong slogan, “Ignorance is bliss,” begins to sound pretty appealing. You think, why not just live a “normal life” and forget about all this? Why take on this extra burden of mind training and the cultivation of loving-kindness? [Read more…] about 56: Don’t Wallow in Self-Pity