If you wish to prepare your thoughts to be purer, practise Lojong meditation approach.
Many individuals get pleasure from this type of contemplative meditation, which is a core a part of Tibetan Buddhism. After we do Lojong thoughts coaching, we use slogans or aphorisms to purify the thoughts and proper our motivations and attitudes.
You should use numerous aphorisms, or “common truths” when practising Lojong meditation. The preferred are the slogans of Chekawa Yeshe Dorje, that are used within the Sarma traditions. After which there are the slogans of Langri Tangpa and of the Dzogchen Nyingthig lineage.
We use the Lojong slogans to create wholesome psychological habits, to domesticate compassion, and to narrate to the world in a constructive manner. Certainly, many academics like Pema Chodron and the Dalai Lama like to show these methods as a result of they assist individuals to have a constructive and compassionate perspective in the direction of life.
Under, I’ll share the varied Lojong slogans, however first, let’s have a look at how you can do Lojong meditation.
How To Do Lojong Meditation
Under, I’ve written directions for Lojong meditation. Nonetheless, you will need to know that you just don’t have to do Lojong in meditation. No matter you’re doing, meditating or not, you possibly can recall to mind the Lojong slogans and thereby practise the thoughts coaching.
Right here is the meditation.
- In case you are new to Buddhism, begin with my information Buddhist Meditation for Freshmen.
- Notice that you are able to do this meditation with any of the Lojong slogans. I’ve chosen one slogan, however yow will discover extra choices under.
- Sit with good posture. Place your toes shoulder-width aside. Make certain your backbone is in correct alignment. Gently decrease your chin just a little to elongate your neck.
- Start to breathe mindfully. Take a minimal of 25 conscious breaths in order to calm down and focus your thoughts.
- Recall to mind the Lojong Slogan. I’ve chosen the slogan “Keep consciousness of the preciousness or human life”, the slogan of Chekawa Yeshe Dorje.
- Slowly repeat this slogan in your thoughts. Notice that the best way we repeat a slogan is totally different to how we repeat a mantra. With mantras we concentrate on the sound. With slogans we’re intellectually considering the sentence.
- As you repeat the slogan in your thoughts, you’ll start to see concepts. As an illustration, the very first thing I noticed in my thoughts when repeating this slogan was a picture of a butterfly flying above inexperienced fields. Invite these photos to your thoughts. It will instill the standard of the concept into your thoughts. As an illustration, once I invite my picture of a butterfly into my thoughts, I really feel a gentleness and peacefulness, and I can then enable that peacefulness to encourage me.
- Proceed meditating on the slogan for ten minutes, permitting concepts to circulation via your thoughts, such that the slogan is guiding your innermost self.
- End the meditation, however proceed to ponder your Lojong slogan all through your day.
Notice that Lojong thoughts coaching is historically mixed with Tonglen Meditation.
Extra Lojong Slogans (for Bodhicitta Thoughts Coaching)
- Regard all dharmas as goals; though experiences could seem strong, they’re passing recollections.
- Study the character of unborn consciousness.
- Self-liberate even the antidote.
- Relaxation within the nature of alaya, the essence, the current second.
- In postmeditation, be a toddler of phantasm.
- Sending and taking must be practiced alternately. These two ought to experience the breath.
- Three objects, three poisons, three roots of advantage — The three objects are associates, enemies and neutrals. The three poisons are craving, aversion and indifference. The three roots of advantage are the treatments.
- In all actions, prepare with slogans.
- Start the sequence of sending and taking with your self.
For extra Lojong Slogans see this Wikipedia web page.
My expertise with Lojong Meditation & Thoughts Coaching
In my expertise, Lojong thoughts coaching is an excellent accompaniment to my common meditation observe. The great thing about Lojong is that the slogans train us to understand the world in a manner that’s constructive, compassionate, and conducive to enlightenment.
One in all my favourite issues about Lojong thoughts coaching is that you just don’t need to do it whereas meditating. Oftentimes all through my day, I’ll cease for a second and recall to mind one of many slogans. This helps remind me of the preciousness of life and the worth of compassion.
By mixing my common meditation observe with Lojong I’ve been in a position to domesticate a extra compassionate view of life.
If you want to be taught extra about this and different meditation methods, guide an internet meditation lesson with me at present.
Paul Harrison is a passionate meditation trainer who believes in real, genuine meditation. He has greater than 15 years expertise in meditation and mindfulness. He studied meditation in lovely Oxford, UK, and Hamilton Ontario Canada, and earned his diploma at Staffordshire College.
“My objective is to supply essentially the most genuine meditation periods so you possibly can harness the ability of your individual thoughts for private transformation” – Paul Harrison