This book presents commentary, stories, and historical background on the lojong slogans of Tibetan Buddhism. Used by meditators through the ages to cultivate awareness and compassion, and made popular by successful books by Pema Chodron and Chogyam Trungpa. This contemplation practice offers guidance for remaining receptive and wakeful amid the ups and downs of daily life. These meditations have long been considered the quintessence of Buddhist teachings for cultivating an awakened heart and a compassionate mind.
Traleg Kyabgon, a revered contemporary Tibetan master, offers practical and thorough explanations of each of the fifty-nine lojong slogans, including:
- Don't wait in ambush.
- Always maintain a cheerful outlook.
- Don't attack others' vulnerable points.
The Practice of Lojong will be of interest to all those who want to explore how Buddhist teachings can help us find clarity and balance in daily life, and it will deepen the understanding of those who have read other popular books on lojong, such as Start Where You Are by Pema Chodron and Training the Mind and Cultivating Lovingkindness by Chogyam Trungpa.
The Practice of Lojong: Cultivating Compassion through Mind Training, Traleg Rinpoche, Shambhala Publications, 320 Pages, $22.95
The Venerable Traleg Kyabgon Riinpoche was born in 1955 in Eastern Tibet. At the age of two, he was recognised by His Holiness the sixteenth Gyalwa Karmapa, head of the Kagyu lineage, as the ninth incarnation of the Traleg tulkus, which can be traced back to the time of Saltong Shogam, a contemporary of the first Karmapa. Traleg Rinpoche was enthroned as the Abbot of Tra'gu Monastery in Tibet and following the Chinese invasion of his country was taken to safety in India. There he continued the rigorous training prescribed for tulkus born with responsibilities as major lineage holders in the Tibetan tradition of Vajrayana Buddhism. This training included five years at Sanskrit University in Varanasi and several years at Rumtek Monastery, the main seat of the Karma Kagyu Lineage. Not only has Traleg Rinpoche received the complete teachings of the Karma Kagyu tradition of Vajrayana Buddhism, but he is also well acquainted with the practices and philosophy of the Drugpa Kagyu strand of the Kagyu lineage, having spent nine years studying with the Regent of the Drugpa mKagyu, the late Dungsse Rinpoche, at his monastery in Darjeeling.
Rinpoche came to Australia in 1980 in order to make the teachings and practices of the Kagyu tradition available there. He established the Kagyu E-Vam Buddhist Institute in 1982 and regulaerly conducts courses and retreats in the practice and theory of Buddhism for the Institute. Rinpoche has travelled widely, giving lectures and seminars on Buddhism and related topics in the United States, Canada, New Zealand, South-East Asia and Europe.
CONTENTS: The Practice of Lojong
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Foreword by Ken Wilber
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ix
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Preface
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xiii
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Acknowledgments
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xv
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Introduction
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1
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POINT ONE
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The Preliminaries
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15
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POINT TWO
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The Actual Practice: The Cultivation of Bodhichitta
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29
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POINT THREE
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Transforming Adversity into the Path of Awakening
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82
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POINT FOUR
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Maintaining the Practice for the Duration of Our Lives
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120
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POINT FIVE
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Measuring the Success of Mind Training
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147
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POINT SIX
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The Commitments of Mind Training
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165
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POINT SEVEN
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Guidelines for Mind Training
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198
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Conclusion
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235
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Jamgon Kongtrul's Lojong Prayer
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237
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Notes
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247
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Glossary
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263
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Bibliography
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273
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Index
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279
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