Awakening the Buddha Within _ Eight Steps to Enlightenment - Lama Surya Das [75]
“Don’t Wallow in Self-pity”
Do you become so intensely involved with the ups and downs of your life that you sometimes feel as though your thoughts are glued to your own problems and that you are like a human yo-yo? If so, it’s extremely difficult to feel love and compassion for others. But give self-preoccupation a little tug and see if you can detach from your personal ups and downs. Like taking off a Band-Aid, it only hurts for a short time. Then it feels so much better. Let some fresh air in. It could be healing.
“Always Maintain a Joyful Mind”
Why not be cheerful? Why be miserable? Why not pretend to be happy instead? In fact, why not pretend to be happy, free, and complete instead of pretending the contrary is true? Years ago I remember reading a survey of people who considered themselves to be happy. Many of the respondents felt that they had achieved this desirable state by making the decision to be happy and content. Try making this decision and see what happens. Anyone who has ever attended a peace demonstration knows the song “Give Peace a Chance.” Why not give joy a chance?
My friend Sylvia Boorstein, a Buddhist meditation teacher who is sometimes referred to as a grandmother Bodhisattva, wrote a delightful book about achieving happiness, which is titled It’s Easier Than You Think. This kind of teaching makes my heart sing. At the same time, let’s not fool ourselves. It can sometimes also be more difficult than we think. The entire tantric teaching is one of appreciating the rich tapestry and beauty of things just as they are. The good and the bad. The shadow and the light. The dark days of February, and the sunny days of May. I think of it as dancing with life, not just trying to control it or figure it out.
The spiritual masters of Tibet say that the ability to maintain inner joy and a larger perspective in the face of adversity is a sign that mind-training is taking effect and transforming our lives.
CREATING YOUR OWN SLOGANS
FOR YOUR OWN PATH
Mind-training slogans are a richly rewarding method for keeping you on the path. There is no reason why you can’t find your own homegrown, native slogans. One of my favorite Western-style slogans is Have a Nice Day, Unless You’ve Made Other Plans. It sits on the wall above my desk, and I often post it on bulletin boards at meditation retreats. It certainly wasn’t written by a lama of ancient times, but it still reflects the message and meaning of Dharma. I also have a lapel pin stuck to the dashboard of my car that says Celebrate Life. I like having it there to remind Serious Das to lighten up and find joy in whatever needs to be done. Try to mine your own life for the wisdom sayings that resonate with your heart. Your life and your path are unique; why not have a few unique slogans that have meaning to you? Reach into your heart cave and awaken the wisdom in your heart-mind.
When you come up with slogans that speak to your experience, write them down so you don’t forget them. Carry a small pocket notebook for the purpose. Don’t be distressed if your slogans sound like clichés. No one else has to see them. When something true has been repeated millions of times, it may sound very familiar, but it still carries truth. Think about the slogan that has been used by so many 12-Step programs—Let Go, And Let God. It’s had meaning for a great many people; why shouldn’t it have meaning for you? Perhaps you have a variation on the same theme. Several people I know tell me that when they are