On the heels of the previous slogan, here is another to help us clarify the way: correct all wrongs with one intention. And the intention, again, is to live in a way that benefits others. But how does this correct all wrongs? Well, we could argue…
All activities should be done with one intention. What’s that one intention? Benefitting others. Pema Chodron reminds us that this benefit can be direct or indirect. But the overall focus is to “increase your experience of kinship with your fellow beings.” Remember them. Recognize and honor…
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This lojong slogan can be simplified to say: don’t seek joy in the pain of others. Jamgon Kungtrul says “don’t look to profit from sorrow.” Norman Fischer translates it as “don’t rejoice at other’s pain.” However you say it, the intention here is to have compassion…
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When we make gods into demons, we turn something that is meant to be good into something negative. For example, we use our growth as a platform for egotism. Or we shame others who aren’t where we are. I’m using examples in the spiritual growth realm…
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Don’t act with a twist means being aware of our motivations. Are you being nice because you want something in return? Are you showing a certain side of yourself that will be received best? To be clear, the answer is yes! Of course we do this.…
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Simply put, don’t try to be the fastest. Don’t turn everything into a competition. Spiritual growth isn’t a race. If we want to compete against anything, it’s our former selves. The wisdom of this lojong slogan teaches us to keep our focus on ourselves and not…
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Another lojong slogan situated in the life of ancient Tibet: Don’t transfer the ox’s load to the cow. In other words, don’t pass the buck. Cows provide milk, but they are not meant to be load-bearing animals. That’s what the ox is for. So, don’t put…
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Lojong slogan 33 can be translated a number of different ways. Most commonly it’s rendered “Don’t bring things to a painful point.” Other versions say “Don’t go for the throat” or “Don’t make everything so painful.” And like the slogans preceding it, it deals with the…
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The 32nd lojong slogan says, “Don’t wait in ambush.” In ancient Tibet, being ambushed by robbers was a very real problem. So the wisdom of this slogan carried a lot of impact. It’s sneaky to ambush someone. It means hiding or waiting until someone is in…
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This may be the most straightforward of all the slogans yet: Don’t malign others. Don’t talk bad about people. Do not criticize them, talk behind their backs, ridicule them. Don’t think the worst about them when you want people to think the best of you. This…
