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FACE TO FACE | EASTERN HORIZON 27

With lojong from a Buddhist perspective we analyze the
different types of problems that we face and understand
from the teachings that they are due to the law of
karma or cause and effect. When we face problems in
life and understand the law of karma then it is easier
for us to accept them and know how to deal with
them. We ourselves have created the main causes and
now particular external conditions cause this karma
to ripen. We also train in purifying the mind, so that
Geshe Tenzin Namdak with Lama Zopa Rinpoche
negative karma created in the past gets purified, while
we prevent suffering in the future by not engaging in
negative acts. With the accumulation of positive karma,
we create causes for happiness.

Another aspect of lojong is related to the Bodhisattva
ideal, or the wish to become an enlightened being
for the benefit of all sentient beings. It also means
the cultivation of altruistic thoughts, or the mind of
Bodhicitta based on loving-kindness and compassion.
In this practice of lojong we enhance these positive Main shrine hall, Jamyang Buddhist Center
states of mind, and when we face problems, we take the
suffering of others upon ourselves. We imagine that by
experiencing suffering, may all sentient beings’ suffering
ripen upon me. This can be a very powerful method. It
counteracts the self-cherishing attitude, which is the
cause for our problems, and with the thought of taking
other’s suffering upon oneself, one purifies negative
karma. So, we can practice lojong on different levels.

Buddhism is synonymous with meditation. Is lojong Library, Jamyang Buddhist Centre
another form of meditation such as samatha and
vipassana which are taught in many Buddhist that everyone is the same and aspires happiness in
traditions? life. Taking this into account, we wish others to be free
of suffering and imagine we take their suffering upon
As lojong is about mind training or how we transform ourselves. From the Buddha’s teachings, we understand
our mind, it is a form of meditation. In the case of that we are all inter-connected to one another. We have
Samatha meditation, it is more about developing responsibilities towards every other sentient being.
concentration while Vipassana is about attaining Knowing that every sentient being wants happiness, we
insight. Lojong is more like Vipassana because lojong contemplate on the wish to help others find happiness
uses an analytical approach to analyze phenomena. For and avoid suffering. We train our mind therefore to
instance, we can contemplate on the Buddha’s teachings become a Buddha, an enlightened being, by generating a
of the Four Noble Truths, 12 Links of Dependent wish to help other sentient beings to get out of samsara.
Origination, the Four Close Placements of Mindfulness,
or the Noble Eight-fold Path. Likewise, in lojong with Does this wish to help sentient beings find
the Bodhisattva ideal, we analyze why every sentient happiness start with a thought of loving kindness
being wants happiness and not suffering and we realize and compassion?