Lojong practice is a Tibetan meditative practice where you work with slogans to shape your mind ethically and spiritually. Lojong means Mind Training. This practice has been in use since the 12th century.

There are 59 easy to remember Mind Training slogans. Each slogan looks at a different activity, node, or module of life. Many of the slogans provide encouragement or a perspective that frees you from your usual thinking.

You don't have to be Buddhist or interested in Tibetan culture to find value here. You don't have to be a meditator or even interested in these topics. All you need is a mind. You do have a mind, don't you?

You may resist the idea of training the mind. It can sound like a lot of seriously dull work, but it can be anything but boring. You will get to face ingrained habits, and as you advance with practice, make positive changes in your experience.

Mind training is not about being perfect. Mind training is about incremental advancement, about being better than yesterday, about being a better human, a better partner, parent, friend, neighbor, student, and worker.

The 59 slogans are divide up into 7 points. I've given the headings my twist, my spin.

1. Groundwork
2. The Practices
3. Applying yourself
4. Living and dying
5. Measures of proficiency
6. The 'Don't' Section
7. The 'Do' Section

Next week I'll be looking at the first slogan 'Begin with the beginning' — an opportunity to start where you are.

This post is meant to help me recommit caring for the world and remind me to encourage my future self to be better than before. Where to work on mental fitness and 'adulting.' A reminder to operate in the world with love and compassion and some tips put together in moments of clarity to help when less clear and caught up in stuff I can't control. Continue the conversation anytime: will@kestrelcreek.com.