Find direction and wisdom with meditation and traditional Tibetan Buddhist slogans that nourish the heart and mind.
We see inspirational quotes every day. Most of the time, these little “memes” lack any true spiritual advice. Unlike memes, Lojong, an important mind training practice in Tibetan Buddhism, uses its own style of “slogans” to guide and inform our meditative experiences. The “Awakening the Compassionate Heart: Mind Training (Lojong) for Our Times” retreat on August 31 – September 2 with Drubpön Lama Karma, will teach us meditation and help us find guidance through the Lojong teachings and slogans. The tools in this retreat help us refine ourselves to become happier, healthier, and more loving humans.
In this meditation retreat, we offer teachings and techniques at the beginner and advanced level. These include:
• Mindfulness Meditation: Mindfulness has gained popularity for the way it gently places us in the present. This helps us cultivate patience and reduces emotional and physical stress.
• Mind Training (Lojong): Practical and inspiring teachings that allow us to open our hearts, guiding and revealing the integration of meditation into our lives. Read more specifically about Lojong below.
• Tonglen Meditation: Also known as “sending and receiving.” Tonglen was made known to larger audiences through Pema Chödrön’s book “When Things Fall Apart.” This revolutionary meditation encourages us to approach our pain, endlessly expand our love and joy, and strengthen our bonds with others.
This retreat is open to everyone. No prior meditation experience required.
Lojong
Lojong is a method for developing compassion, which releases the stranglehold that we have on our lives. We slowly find more breathing space as we allow our minds to absorb “slogans.” These slogans have an alchemical effect on our condition, and have been carefully arranged to deepen our awareness as we integrate and expound upon their meaning. There are fifty-nine Lojong slogans. Please enjoy these three Lojong slogans below.
“Abandon any hope of fruition.”
In our culture, we strive for high standards in all aspects of our lives. This slogan helps us see that there is joy in simply “doing;” and while end goals are great, they could steer us the wrong way should they be our only focus. This creates a huge sense of relief in anything we strive for, allows us to drop our sense of competitiveness, and appreciate others.
“Don’t act with a twist.”
Something that is also rampant in our culture is how we act with a selfish ulterior motive. Very often we don’t even know we are acting like this. When we “act with a twist,” we do not truly value what we are doing and the people we are doing it for. When we act from an altruistic space we have more energy, creativity, and productivity. Ironically, in the end, more good things come back to us that give us real joy.
“Whichever of the two occurs, be patient.”
Our incessant labeling of what is good or bad makes us react in an unhealthy way. Having patience no matter what happens allows us to have perspective, and act appropriately. From here, we are more considerate, more available, and develop a greater sense of self-worth.
We hope you enjoyed this sneak peek into Lojong and join us for this retreat, embarking on a journey of meditation and inspiration. For more information about the retreat and teacher, please read below.
~ With Blessings, Tara Mandala
About The Retreat
Awakening the Compassionate Heart: Mind Training (Lojong) for Our Times
With Drubpön Lama Karma
August 31 – September 2, 2018
A Meditation Retreat. Mind Training (Lojong) offers practical and inspiring teachings for cultivating compassion, patience, and perspective. With a particular focus on integrating all of your life’s experiences onto the path of awakening, these pithy teachings help you to bring your practice into your life and develop a greater capacity to feel compassion for yourself and others. In this retreat… More → | Register Now
About The Teacher
Venerable retreat master (drubpön) Lama Karma was born in eastern Bhutan and joined the Long-Nying Chöling Monastery at a young age. His root teacher was Lama Naljorpa, the great yogi of mahamudra and Dzogchen, from whom he received numerous vows, empowerments, instructions and oral transmissions, including the Chöd Rinchen Trengwa and the Chöd practice of Laughter of the Dakinis from the Longchen Nyingtik Tradition … More →