Slogan #24

Change your attitude, but remain natural.

‘Get over yourself’ is a pithy, sassy rewording but Slogan #24 asks us to do so with compassion and equanimity towards ourselves and others. These self-transcendent emotions result in attitude adjustments by shifting attention from ‘me to we’ without harshness and destructiveness. One of the fundamental effects of compassion training through Lojong is that our circle of compassion and concern expands to encompass more and more of the universe that we live in. Norm Fischer’s interpretation of this slogan is: “Don’t be a phony.” He admonishes us to lighten up and relax in order to shine a gentle light on our smug, sanctimonious, and entitled selves!

Faith is the mindset that love, compassion, generosity, and equanimity will fuel a connection to ourselves. Faith is required to begin this practice of change; as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr wrote: “Faith is taking the first step, even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” This doesn’t mean blind faith in a teacher or lineage, but an understanding that we perhaps don’t know everything right now. The challenge is not to believe or disbelieve but simply to trust the practice and remain open to whatever arises and to be open to possibility and insight, thereby making space, not only for the mysteries of life but for new ideas. Can you take a leap of faith and step out of your comfort zone? Can you trust in the healing potential of your practice? Every working definition of faith has to be accessible and actionable. Faith is believing in yourself, the teachings, your practice, your community; whatever inspires you to compassionate action. Faith lives in the heart, not the intellect. Faith is that quiet, stammering voice inside of you that asks: “What is alive in me?” What are my questions?” “What is my path?” Every practice is an act of faith in your potential, in your ability to find your path.

"The garden of the world has no limits, except in your mind." Rumi