| "We begin from the recognition that all beings cherish | | | | of all those with similar problems as well as every |
| happiness and do not want suffering. It then | | | | conceivable problem, your experience becomes a |
| becomes both morally wrong and pragmatically | | | | purification. |
| unwise to pursue only one's own happiness oblivious | | | | Mahayana Yoga teaches that all sickness and disease |
| to the feelings and aspirations of all others who | | | | is the broom that sweeps away negative karma and |
| surround us as members of the same human family. | | | | obscuration. Thus, when ill, we can say: "The fruit of |
| "The wiser course is to think of others when | | | | the negative karma I've created in the past is |
| pursuing our own happiness." | | | | ripening with this experience of sickness, in this life, |
| Dalai Lama : The current Dalai Lama, 14th Dalai Lama | | | | at this moment. |
| Source: Tibetan Lamaism. Regarded as vice-regent of | | | | "If I were not experiencing the results of my past |
| the Buddha & the reincarnation of the previous Lama. | | | | negative karma now, the suffering I would |
| The practice of Mahayana Yoga is not about the | | | | experience in the future would be much greater. By |
| elimination of problems, but rather, to enable you to | | | | experiencing it now, I have the opportunity to purify |
| use the problems you experience to train the mind to | | | | myself." |
| welcome them; to train the mind to recognize | | | | Thinking like this allows you to live your life with a |
| aversion to suffering and surrender to it; and to train | | | | relaxed and happy mind. You do not get upset or |
| the mind to welcome problems and see them as the | | | | depressed about your health or any problem. |
| friends that they are. | | | | As your mind relaxes, external conditions are not |
| The practice of Mahayana Yoga Thought | | | | disturbing. |
| Transformation is mind training that teaches us to | | | | When faced with problems you can say: "If I didn't |
| see all experience as teachings and lessons; to view | | | | have this problem, I would become lazy. I would lose |
| all experience as beneficial and supportive. | | | | this precious opportunity to purify my past negative |
| As I remind myself constantly that my only authority | | | | actions and in the process, develop great virtue." |
| is to my own life, minding my own business, I also | | | | Also say: "I am experiencing this problem on behalf of |
| lean on the strength of my higher power, Divinity and | | | | all suffering beings so that they may be free of |
| the angels. | | | | suffering." |
| I ask Divinity to teach me to detach my mind from | | | | Also say: "How fantastic that I am actually able to |
| what others say and do except to draw helpful | | | | take upon myself the suffering of all living beings at |
| lessons and guidance from them. | | | | this time." |
| I adapt a pattern of only working on myself. I stop | | | | Then, when your mental capacity is more advanced, |
| interfering with others. I mind my own business. | | | | you may actually pray to receive even more of the |
| I didn't cause it. | | | | suffering and problems of other beings. |
| I can't control it. | | | | You may wish that all harms, all undesirable |
| I can't cure it. | | | | experience, disease, failure: All of it!! comes to me |
| Peace of mind is an attitude of "Hands Off." | | | | rather than others, thus seeking to experience all the |
| Peace of mind is letting go of all that has gone | | | | so-called bad conditions on behalf of all other living |
| before. | | | | beings. |
| Paradoxically, the awakened mind, in a state of utter | | | | Pray in this way: "Please grant me blessings so that I |
| detachment, learns to see that all disturbing thoughts | | | | can take all karmic debts, obstacles and suffering of |
| and apparent problems are essential for the | | | | all other beings without exception upon myself, and |
| achievement of happiness and freedom. | | | | dedicate my body, possessions and love to them, |
| This is what Mahayana Yoga Thought Transformation | | | | thus may I lead all sentient beings to bliss." |
| is all about. | | | | This is the Bodhisattva path. |
| Another practice is to consciously become a | | | | The power of Bodhisattva is the best protection you |
| Bodhisattva: just love all people and beings, adapting | | | | can have, infinitely better than spending life after life |
| gratitude and appreciation for all the people and all | | | | after millions of eons protecting yourself with Karate. |
| the experiences in your life. It's the act of loving | | | | The power of atomic bombs is completely |
| others and yourself with an attitude of service and | | | | insignificant when compared to the power of one |
| humility that all the apparent "problems" will vanish | | | | good heart. |
| from your life. | | | | Nurturing the good heart keeps all enemies away, |
| The single practice of fostering a loving heart | | | | fostering the migration of friends from the seen and |
| immediately stops all confusion regarding life | | | | unseen realms. |
| situations. | | | | The obstacles to happiness fall away. |
| Another Mahayana Thought Transformation practice | | | | The conditions that once appeared miserable now |
| in the face of insurmountable problems is called | | | | appear auspicious. |
| "taking and giving." | | | | Suddenly everything in life is fortunate and good. |
| Simply visualize taking all the suffering of other | | | | People can't see your mind but what they can see is |
| people into your heart and imagine giving everything: | | | | a manifestation of your attitude in actions |
| your body, your possessions, your happiness, your | | | | surrounding your body and your speech. |
| merit to all the suffering in the universe. | | | | So pay attention to your attitude all the time, guard |
| Imagine that whatever problem you are experiencing | | | | it like a parent caring for a child, or as if you are a |
| is due to willingly taking upon yourself the problems | | | | guru and your mind, the disciple. |
| of others, thereby relieving them of all their suffering. | | | | The Bodhisattva way is a process. |
| In this way, you experience your problem for the | | | | A teacher is most certainly needed. |
| benefit of others. | | | | But true happiness is the undeniable result. |
| Because you are experiencing your problem on behalf | | | | |