The Lojong Slogans: Training the Heart in a Challenging World

How do you practice compassion when someone is difficult? How do you stay calm when everything goes wrong?

Tibetan Buddhism offers a powerful system called Lojong, or "Mind Training," with the Seven Points of Mind Training being a classic text.
Its core is a set of pithy, provocative slogans designed to be memorized and used throughout the day to rewire our habitual reactions.

They are practical tools for transforming life's inevitable problems into the path of awakening.

Two Slogans for Modern Life:
• "Turn all blames into one." When things go wrong, our habit is to blame others, circumstances, or ourselves. This slogan invites you to see that the real source of your pain is not the external event, but your own emotional reaction to it. The next time you feel upset, try this: Instead of focusing on who or what to blame, simply feel the raw emotion in your body—the tightness, the heat. By taking responsibility for your own feelings, you reclaim your power to change them.
• "Be grateful to everyone." This is perhaps the most radical slogan. It means that every person in your life, especially the difficult ones, is your teacher. They show you where you are attached, where you get angry, and where your patience runs out. Your "enemy" gives you the unparalleled opportunity to practice patience and compassion, which cannot be developed in isolation.

A Modern Practice: One Slogan a Day
Choose one Lojong slogan and write it on a card. Carry it with you and try to apply it consciously in different situations. It’s like a software update for your heart, making you more agile, kind, and resilient in the face of daily challenges.