Slogan #44

Train in the three difficulties.

The challenge of Slogan #44 is three-fold: recognize obstacles or kleshas as they arise; self-regulate in order to seek new strategies; and respond with compassion to self and others. The kleshas have been described as the root of human suffering and are the mental states such as desire, anger, fear, envy, pride, and ignorance that manifest in reactive behaviour. Recognize your particular brand of suffering or mental affliction, no matter how difficult, in order to see things as they are, undistorted by expectation, fear, or need. Self-regulation can be defined in various ways, but In the most basic sense, it involves managing disruptive emotions and impulses, behaviour, and thoughts in the pursuit of long-term goals. Our mode of intervention is meditation, of course. :) Regulating is the balance between outer alignment (actions) and inner attunement (sensations, emotions, and thoughts).

Kleshas are difficult to overcome because of our propensity to fixate on ourselves. However, they can be a source of both our suffering and of our growth. Emotions are temporary states and do not define us. One of the most profound teachings of meditation is that we are not our thoughts or emotions; for example, "I’m feeling angry at this moment" is qualitatively different from "I’m an angry person.” Remember what is skillful, refined, and beneficial. These basics will interrupt the escalating of emotional reactivity and teach you how to open when you want to close down and how to give when you want to hold back. Lojong is a practice for life so be inspired by your mistakes, enjoy the effort, be accountable to the slogans, and keep on learning!

“If we don’t do our work, then we become work for other people.”

Lama Rod Owens

Previous
Previous

Slogan #44

Next
Next

Slogan #43