SLOGAN 7 • Sending and taking should be practiced alternately. These two should ride the breath.
According to this slogan, in relation to ourselves, it is a good idea to practice breathing out what we want and breathing in what we don’t want. How counterintuitive is that? And in relation to others, it is suggested that we practice breathing out to them our love and healing, and breathing in their pain and sickness. That aspect is a little easier to grasp, as the notion of praying for those we care about is more familiar to us, as people who grew up in a Judeo-Christian culture. [Read more…] about 7: Sending and Taking Should be Practiced Alternately. These Two Should ride the Breath.
8: Three Objects, Three Poisons, and Three Seeds of Virtue
SLOGAN 8 • Three objects, three poisons, and three seeds of virtue.
Three Objects: Labeling our World
One way of looking at this slogan is that it is about the power of labels. It is about the way we categorize our world and what happens as a result. At a crude level and very quickly we are always sizing people up. We put the people we deal with into mental bins such as “friend,” “enemy” or “not worth bothering with.” We do this both individually and collectively. [Read more…] about 8: Three Objects, Three Poisons, and Three Seeds of Virtue
9: In All Activities Train with Slogans
SLOGAN 9 • In all activities train with slogans.
Pretty much anything we do can be joined with slogan practice. If you study and memorize the slogans, you will find that slogans appropriate to the occasion will pop up on their own. You can find ways to remind yourself, as well. You could keep a set of slogan cards on your desk, which you could buy or create in your own style. You could read and study the many commentaries on the practice. [Read more…] about 9: In All Activities Train with Slogans
10: Begin the Sequence of Sending and Taking with Yourself
SLOGAN 10 • Begin the sequence of sending and taking with yourself.
You may want to develop greater compassion and the ability to take on the suffering of others, but what about yourself? What about your own suffering? According to this slogan, that is where you start. You begin by recognizing your own suffering. [Read more…] about 10: Begin the Sequence of Sending and Taking with Yourself
11: When the world is filled with evil, transform all mishaps into the path of bodhi
SLOGAN 11 • When the world is filled with evil, transform all mishaps into the path of bodhi.
When things go wrong, when we encounter obstacles, the last thing on our minds is the dharma. Instead, what is the first thing on our minds? Ourselves! It is all about how we are being inconvenienced, burdened, put upon, attacked, misunderstood, rejected—you name it. Not only do we lose track of the path, but our concern for others goes into hibernation as we focus front and center on our own particular problem. [Read more…] about 11: When the world is filled with evil, transform all mishaps into the path of bodhi
12: Drive All Blames into One
SLOGAN 12 • Drive all blames into one.
We live in a society and world filled with blames and complaints of all kinds. When something goes wrong—and there is always something going wrong—we look for someone to blame. If we can’t find who is responsible, and our urge to blame is still lingering around, we choose someone willy-nilly. It could be anyone. Fill in the blanks, “It’s the ______! (Jews! Women drivers! Husbands! Kids! Corporations! …) [Read more…] about 12: Drive All Blames into One
13: Be Grateful to Everyone
SLOGAN 13 • Be grateful to everyone.
This slogan is about gratitude. Gratitude does not seem to be that front and central nowadays. Instead of appreciating what we have, we keep focusing on what we do not have. We are filled with grudges and resentments and have strong opinions about what we deserve and what is our due. We may be taught to say “please” and “thank you,” but what have we been taught about appreciation? [Read more…] about 13: Be Grateful to Everyone
14: Seeing Confusion as the Four Kayas is Unsurpassable Shunyata Protection
SLOGAN 14 • Seeing confusion as the four kayas Is unsurpassable shunyata protection.
With this slogan, once again we are joining what we usually consider as undesirable with practice. In this case it is confusion. At first glimpse, this slogan seems rather obscure and even esoteric. What kind of confusion? What are the four kayas? What is shunyata, anyway, and what form of protection can it provide? Protection from what? [Read more…] about 14: Seeing Confusion as the Four Kayas is Unsurpassable Shunyata Protection
15: Four Practices are the Best of Methods
SLOGAN 15 • Four Practices are the Best of Methods
This slogan is very straightforward and action oriented. It lays out four specific practices to incorporate in our everyday life. [Read more…] about 15: Four Practices are the Best of Methods
16: Whatever You Meet Unexpectedly, Join with Meditation
SLOGAN 16 • Whatever you meet unexpectedly, join with meditation.
When our lives are going relatively smoothly and predictably it is easier to maintain our mindfulness. But when things are happening fast, it is hard to remember to join what we encounter with meditation. It is also easier to think of others if we ourselves are not currently either in the midst of some crisis or caught up in some amazing opportunity. But it seems that no matter how hard we try to stay on an even keel, we keep being blindsided by unexpected events. [Read more…] about 16: Whatever You Meet Unexpectedly, Join with Meditation