Mind Training: Cultivating Compassion and Insight. Lojong Slogan 27
Channel: SF Dharma Collective
Date: 2021-01-18

Lopon Chandra Easton leads Shamatha and Tonglen meditations, and takes questions on practice afterwards. We discuss the 27th Logong slogan, "work with the greatest defilements first," sometimes also translated as, "train with the strongest emotions first" or "train with whatever is the greatest afflictive emotion first."

Chandra discusses the five poisons; Ignorance, Greed, Hatred, Pride and Jealousy/Envy, going into depth on Ignorance and Greed.

Mind Training, or Lojong, is a practical and inspiring teaching that transforms the mind which is afflicted by our tendency towards enacting destructive emotions. At the heart of all practices of Tibetan Buddhism, Mind Training puts special emphasis on transforming adversity and joy into the path of our awakening. In contemporary psychological terms, we investigate our so-called ‘negative’ emotional experiences to identify the stories and patterns that occlude our innate compassionate, pro-social nature. 

There are 59 ‘slogans’ of Lojong which are designed to provoke and engage our mind to move away from self-centeredness and towards developing Bodhicitta, the wish that all beings may be happy and free of suffering. At the core is the invitation for us to commit to full, unconditional compassion for ourselves through recognizing the innate goodness and suffering we share with all beings. 

Each class will include teachings, practice, and discussion relating to one of the 59 slogans. Core Mind Training meditations such as Shamatha (Calm Abiding) and Tonglen (Sending & Receiving) will be taught.

Lopön Chandra Easton is a teacher and translator of Tibetan Buddhism. She is the Assistant Spiritual Director and Lead Authorized Teacher for Tara Mandala Retreat Center, founded by Lama Tsultrim Allione. She has taught Buddhism and Yoga since 2001 and co-translated Sublime Dharma: A Compilation of Two Texts on the Great Perfection, published in 2012. She is currently writing a book on the 21 Taras in Buddhism. Visit www.shunyatayoga.com and www.taramandala.org.

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