Good Food For the Mind

Good Food For the Mind

What is the equivalent of “junk food” when it comes to thoughts? What thoughts add no value, yet take up my time, energy and resources? Hint, they are likely the ones when you overthink something, you obsess or ruminate. You cannot get the thought out of your head before bedtime.

There is a practice that suggests you fill your mind with positive thoughts instead, thus crowding out the unproductive and unhelpful ones.

Here are some of the lojong slogans. I have tried to keep the meaning of these as I changed the wording a tiny bit to make them easier to understand. I ask you to forgive me any mistakes in that process:

• All teachings are about lessening the ego, lessening one's self-absorption, selfishness.
  
  
• As long as you are too focused on self-importance and too caught up in thinking about how you are good or bad, you will experience suffering.
  
  
• The ego puts your needs first, cherishes your needs and tells you that the needs of others are not important.
  
  
• Everything that you do, whether virtuous or not, has a result.
  
  
• Obsessing about getting what you want and avoiding what you don't want does not result in happiness.
  
  
• Don't talk about your pain, your complaints and don't take pleasure pointing out, contemplating, maligning or judging the defects, pain, obstacles or weaknesses of others.
  
  
• Pay attention to your role in feeling provoked by resentment. Remind yourself that you have a choice, you do not have to be influenced by outside events or situations.
  
  
• Criticize others only if they ask for your input and do not humiliate them.
  
  
• If working with these slogans makes you feel superior to others, pay attention to that and remind yourself that all comparisons are false and that no one is better or worse than you.
  
  
• Focus on your own faults so that you may improve.
  
  
• Work with your greatest obstacles first. Take responsibility for yourself. Pay attention to your conduct and improve it before looking at others.
  
  
• Train wholeheartedly.
  
  
• Liberate yourself by examining and analyzing: Know your own mind with honesty and fearlessness.
  
  
• Don't compete or compare yourself with others, wallowing in self pity, jealousy, wanting applause or being petty.
  
  
• Blaming others does not help you. Look for where you are responsible in every situation.
  
  
• Be grateful to everyone and every situation has the opportunity to teach you something worth knowing.
  
   
  
  
• Do good deeds without concern about benefiting yourself. All activities should be done with one intention- to help others.
  
   
  
  
• Life is precious.
  
  
• Everything changes and we all will die.
  
   
  
  
• Experiences may seem solid, they are passing memories.
  
  
• Examine the nature of your mind and awareness.
  
   
  
  
• Rest in the nature of the present moment.
  
  
• If you remain in the present moment, you will not be as predictable.
  
  
• When you are surprised by something, sit with it and learn from it.
  
  
• You know yourself better than anyone else knows you.
  
   
  
  
• If you can practice even when distracted, you are well trained.
  
  
• Develop patience and discipline- practice these slogans every day.
  
   
  
  
• Always maintain only a joyful mind. Guard your thoughts.
  
  

 

• Finally: Observe these even at the risk of your life.