Lojong Mind Training - the 59 Slogans (Slightly) Reworked Point 1 : The Groundwork - a Basis for Dharma Practice 1 First

do the groundwork This human life is precious - use it constructively & don't waste ti me on inessentials Life is too important to be taken seriously - lighten up and don't m ake such a big deal of things Become more outwardly focussed and less self-obsessed and solipsisti c - obsessing about our own needs only ensures we remain disconten ted Lojong must be performed with kindness, sensitivity, gentleness & hu mour, politeness & decorum Dukkha is ubiquitous, Karma is always acting Treat everyone & everything with respect. Notice & appreciate ever ything without being judgemental Do things differently - to improve and/or just to experience new thi ngs ("If you always do whay you've always done, you'll always get wh at you've always got ...") When we harden ourselves to suffering, we actually become more susce ptible to it; Conversely by being more open to the suffering of others we grow s tronger and more resilient ie we can try to prevent/avoid source of suffering or deal with our reaction to it - Attempt to cover the entire earth's surface with sheets of h ide, or alternatively, wear a pair of shoes The problem is that we continually blame other pe ople for our own misery Sympathetic Joy is sharing in the happiness of others cf being cut o ff from their joy ie altruistic self-interest Point 2 : The Actual Practice - Training in Ultimate Bodhicitta (Wisdom) 2 Look at all experience as a dream (see also 42) All things will pass. This too will pass. I too will pass. To ev erything there is a season. Perhaps things are not as they initially appear - look behind th e apparent reality "See the difference between the Object and the Impression" Prous t. (But we only see the impression!) [3 Examine the nature of Unborn Awareness / Buddha Nature / Bare Awarenes s / Wisdom / Ultimate Bodhicitta ] 4 Self-liberate even the antidote Cling to nothing, not even wonderful things ("These teachings ar e a raft, not to be clinged to") Use them, but with awareness Methods are dangerous only if you're unaware. Enjoy them & when it's time, say thank you and move on [5 [6 The essence of the path: rest is the basis of all experience ] In daily life, be a child of illusion ] The Actual Practice - Training in Relative Bodhicitta (Awakened Heart - Cul tivation of Compassion) [7 Train in taking & sending alternately - put them on the breath ] 8 Three objects - pleasant, unpleasant, neutral. Three poisons - lobha, do sa, moha. Three seeds of virtue.

By avoiding acting out/repressing, these poisons can lead to mindfulness & become Alobha, Adosa, Amoha We don't develop virtues in the absence of vices, but rather in deal ing with those vices 9 Use these 59 verses in everything we do (added to 43) (We become what we think & we think what we become) Don't 'escape' from any situation - if you escape then something wil l remain missing in you. Deal with it. 10 Begin the practice of unconditional acceptance with oneself (using humou r and compassion) Point 3 : Transformation of Adversity into the Path of Enlightenment 11 When misfortune fills the world and its inhabitants, Make adversity the path of awakening (see also 16) (NB this is different from 8, in that adversity is external cf the 3 in ternal poisons) We only mature spiritually/psychologically when we are tested, when we c an gain intelligence & resilience Relative Bodhicitta Compassion is skill-in-means cf self-serving or self sacrificing, it is altruistic motivation merged with insight Compassion is the moisture which is needed to enable the growth of all o ther virtues Avoid: compassion -> self pity -> hopelessness -> resentment -> anger by not taking oneself too seriously 12 Drive all blame onto oneself Not blaming oneself, but taking ownership of the blame - and responsibil ity for resolution of the issue. Eg boat about to collide with ours. Screaming at it to take evasive acti on, only to realise - too late - that it's empty. When we blame others, we give them power over us Cf Karma - bad stuff happens to me - down to my past deeds ie ka rma/vipaka; bad stuff happens to others - caused by other 4 universal laws ( niyamas). 13 Be grateful to everyone They are pleasant - great. They are neutral - could have been un pleasant, so great They are unpleasant - I can learn from this experience, so great Ultimate Bodhicitta [14 The ultimate protection is emptiness; Know what arises as confusion to be the four aspects of being ] Special Practices in Skilful Means The best way is to use the four practices (i) Accumulation of merit ie make skilful actions entirely habitual. Practice makes perfect. (ii) Confession - clear recognition & personal acknowledgement of uns kilful action & genuine regret that I did it, and then move on. Guilt (kukkucca), as opposed to immediate recognit ion & remorse, is an entirely unskilful state - it fixates on the past & compels us to repeat the same mistakes aga in and again. (iii), (iv) Not relevant 15 16 Work with whatever you encounter, especially what makes you boil, immedi ately (added from 40 & 49) Respond to all situations & personal failings with understanding, openne ss & courage by maintaining mindfulness.

Thereby derive benefit from every situation, however difficult, by engag ing positively with the world, generating compassion & undestanding, remaining outwardly focused and not becoming ensnared in my own solipsistic state. Do not act out or suppress your feelings - examine them intently. This w ill lead to mindfulness. Use whatever happens to practice Lojong & skilfully extract the most fro m the least. Spiritual Alchemy! We must keep the practice real and ensure it retains a sense of lightnes s & movement. No movement will cause our energy to stagnate and too much movement will disperse ou r energy in all directions. Point 4 : Maintaining the Practice for the Duration of our Lives 17 A summary of the essential instructions. Train in the five powers. (i) Power of Aspiration (see also 41) (or Totality & Intensity) First Thing Daily - Make plans for general & immediate goals. Projec t +ve aspirations & let go yesterday's worries Last Thing Daily - Review how I did today (with compassion, wisdom & humour) Any Time - Before any substantial spiritual or wordly activity - 'M ay what I'm about to do yield beneficial results' (ii) P of Habituation - gradually change my response to every situation. Make +ve habits habitual. Avoid coarse acts. (iii) P of Planting White Seeds - Think/Speak/Act in a +ve way, however small, thus giving a more +ve outlook on life. (iv) P of Exposure - Use Right Mindfulness to make faults conscious. Dev elop greater honesty thru self examination. (v) P of Dedication - May what I have done, however small, ripple out & influence lives of others in a +ve way Utilisation of Practice at one's Death [18 The Mahayana instructions for how to die are the five powers. Posture is important. ] Point 5 : Measuring the Success of Mind Training [19 20 All instructions have one aim ]

Two testimonies - rely on the important one Rely on your own judgement of yourself rather than that of other s who don't see the whole you 21 A joyous state of mind is a constant support 22 Proficiency means you do it even when distracted Point 6 : Commitment of Mind Training 23 Always train in three basic principles : (i) Regularity and sincerity of practice / maintenance of prec epts (added to 46 / already in 43) (ii) Not rationalising my mistakes (already in 44) (iii) Practice patience & non-aggression with all - events, crea tures, loved ones, neutrals, enemies 24 Change your intentions, but behave naturally by blending in & never outr ageously ie follow these rules, but not at all showily 25/26 Don't talk about, or dwell on others' faults 27 Work on your worst faults first We can develop +ve qualities before overcoming -ve ones & the or iginal problem often diminishes

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Give up any hope for results Don't look for results from (Lojong) practice, focus on practice with si ncerity. How we engage with practice will determine end result. Getting caught up in the result rather than how we are going to obtain it will ensure failure 29 Give up poisoned food - it's not doing you any good 'cos it's poisonous! 30 Don't be Consistent! Rather apply skilful means in dealing with difficu lt situations & emotions - recognise true nature of situation or emotion - act appropriately, based on that understanding (which very of ten means null action), rather than just doing what you did last time (ie being consi stent - vastly overrated!!) 31-33 Don't attack others by lashing out impulsively; or by waiting in ambush; or with insincerity If you must address a difficult issue with someone - do it constructivel y, as an equal & with intention to help cf harm 34 Do your duty (Don't pass the buck) 35 Don't be So Competitive We always act as if we were in a race, which must have a winner and lose r which promotes arrogance or resentment Instead of comparing myself with others, compare with my previous self i f I need to compare at all. (NB Conceit = Measurement of self cf others). Otherwise simply perform e very activity to the best of my ability Give the victory to others. If they want to score a point, let them ie d on't take yourself so serionsly 36 Don't be devious or sneaky (Act as openly & thoroughly as poss, without expectations of praise or reward) 37 Don't turn something good into something bad ie because you're doing all this Lojong work, don't get high & m ighty but rather avoid arrogance Act as the lowest servant to everyone & Don't spoil good acts by expecting rewards or praise 38 Don't try to profit from another's sorrow or indulge in Schadenfreude Point 7 - Guidelines for Mental Training 39 In all activities, have a single purpose (ie do unto others ...with pati ence & understanding) 40 Use one remedy for everything (added to 16) Use every difficult situation / personal failing to generate com passion & understanding 41 First thing daily - aspire to follow these teachings; Last thing daily review results (added to 17i) 42 Whatever happens, good or bad, be patient Patience does not mean acquiescence, but rather the ability to f ace life's trials with courage & dignity, and thereby deal with them in a creative & beneficial w ay. If things always went our way, we couldn't develop high ideals o r live a meaningful life "To be without some of the things you want is an indispensible p art of happiness" B Russell "Not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of lu ck" Dalai Lama 43 Keep the 5 precepts & these 59 slogans in everything I do, even if my li fe is at risk! (see also 44iii) incl no lying, talking behind others' backs, harsh words or mean ingless talk Always consider the long-term benefits cf pursuing dubious actio

ns for short-term gain Each time we recall a slogan, it helps to avoid reacting in our habitual way 44 Learn to meet 3 challenges (i) practice self-reflection and see your faults as faults - d o not rationalise your mistakes ie excessive desire, anger, jealousy, pride, ignorance (ii) be willing to do something different, usually with help of metta, compassion, mudita, equanimity (iii) aspire to make this a way of life 45 Foster three key elements A good teacher; Proper practise of dhamma; Lifestyle & environ ment sympathetic to practice 46 Don't Allow Three Things to Diminish Faith and respect for your teacher. Enthusiasm for the practice ie regularity & sincerity of practic e Commitment to the Path 47 Ensure body, speech and mind are always inseparable from the heart (ie v irtuous) 48 Train in All Areas Without Partiality (see 16) Mind training should pervade everything one does & comes into contact with - good or bad 49 Always work on whatever makes you boil (added to 16) 50 Don't be swayed by external circumstances Keep up the Practice, maintain the precepts & Lojong mind-training in bad times as well as good. Analogy of rowing - if you stop when the tide turns against you, y ou always end up back where you started but if you continue to row, you stay where you are or only go back a bit and when the tide turns again, you can go forward from where you are now (Patient Endurance). Alice: " here you have to run fast to stay still" 51 Practice what's most important now {Carpe Diem} (i) Other people are more important than we are Are we worrying more about our own progress & practic e than the welfare of others? (ii) Practice is more important than understanding / analytica l study Priority is to APPLY what we've learned in our everyd ay life (iii) Bodhicitta practice is Most Important of All - Must act w ith true feelings and a warm heart 52 Don't misinterpret these 59 slogans Differentiate between compassion & idiot compassion, generosity & idiot generosity. You never really know which action is going to help another, but you do know that letting someone beat up you or another innocent being is certainly not helpful. If their cruel actions are ignored, they may become habituated to negative acts, which is very bad for th e individual themself. Our aim should be to help others reduce their deluded states of mind (but see 31) Slow down, look, listen, open your heart of hearts & then speak & act with clarity and decisiveness 53 Don't Fluctuate (Regular practice becomes part of us, whilst occasional practice has little benefit at all) 54 Don't underestimate your ability Unhesitatingly give myself to ANY beneficial task (esp Lojong) w

ithout fear or reticence 55 Freedom from disturbing emotions/ego-clinging by investigating your expe rience deeply (see also 16) Become fully aware of -ve emotions & the object which caused the m, as they are arising 56 Don't wallow in self-pity or be boastful 57 Don't wear your heart on your sleeve Don't make a fuss (ie expend too much emotional energy) over tri vial things Don't be hypersensitive or jealous - maintain an even keel with youself and others 58 Don't react impulsively with anger or irritation; or Retaliate As per 52, ie slow down, look & listen ... and then act NB Differentiate impulsive (-ve) from spontaneous (+ve) ie remem ber not to be so predictable Keep a calm sough 59 Don't expect Applause, Rewards or Gratitude Do it for the sake of doing it, and not for the kudos