Slogan Forty-five

Take on the three principal causes.

From the Lojong for the Layperson booklet:
            The principal causes are those things that help us awaken and develop loving-kindness. They create the strong base needed for practicing lojong.

• Teacher – The Sanskrit word used for a mentor in mind training is kalyanamitra, or spiritual friend. This is a person who can impart knowledge, offer advice and serve both as a guide and example. Such a mentor is not just there to encourage us, but to expose our true natures.
• Spiritual instructions – The dharma helps us recognize that mind training is not only important but possible. We hear the instructions, contemplate their meaning, and integrate the wisdom into our daily lives.
• Supportive environment –To create the conditions that permit us to practice, we must have adequate social and economic support. Such a system enables us to maintain our dedication.

Photo: Multi-stemmed trunk of crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica).

            If I were to go backpacking in a wilderness area, there are a few things I would make sure I had with me besides the basics of shelter, food and water. The first must-have would be someone to accompany me who was intimately familiar with the terrain, flora and fauna. His wisdom would helpful in such matters as what water sources were safe to drink from and whether the snake with the yellow stripes was harmless. The next items of great value would be a map and a compass. Hiking trails in the deep woods occasionally cross deer paths or old logging trails, and it is easily to mistake one for the other. If we suddenly discovered we’re not where we should be, these tools can help us get back on track. The last essential would be friends with whom to share the experience. We could encourage each other when the climbing got tough, and if someone got hurt, a couple could go for help while the others tended the injured person. In the same way, a mentor, instructions and support can help us successfully travel along our spiritual path.