*Lojong is a mind training practice in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. The practice involves refining and purifying one’s motivations and attitudes. There are fifty-nine or so slogans that form the root text of the mind training practice which are designed as a set of antidotes to undesired mental habits that cause suffering. They contain methods to expand one’s viewpoint towards absolute bodhicitta – or enlightenment.

This type of slogan is one of the reasons Buddhism suffers from PR problems. Add to that the image of  Buddhists monks donning robes with rope ties, shaving their heads, renouncing sex, vows of silence and meditating all day in abbeys and yeah, it would take the world’s best spinmaster to convince your average joe that Buddhism is truly one of most practical and helpful of all spiritual paths.

Back to the slogan, “Abandon all hope of fruition” or you could just say, “Abandon all hope” or “Give up hope” or more simply, “Give up”. Hopeless, defeatist and depressing? Maybe not. Now I know you are thinking, how is that helpful? How is she going to make this into something positive, uplifting and useful in my life? Maybe she forgot to take her Pollyanna pill this morning. Maybe she meant to say, “Never give up hope!” or something as life affirming. Oh ye of little faith. Stick with me. I promise you, I wouldn’t have it taped to my refrigerator door if it didn’t bring me enormous amounts of peace and sanity on a daily basis. You just have to get past what you think it means. Ok? Because I know you are thinking, “give up hope?” Well that’s just un-American.

Continue reading →