Slogan Twenty-one

Always maintain only a joyful mind.

From the Lojong for the Layperson booklet:

            In a world filled with pain, this slogan appears impossible. Our ideas about what joy looks like can trap us, when we believe it should take a particular form. But training reminds us that conditions don’t have to automatically result in a habitual reaction. This slogan doesn’t mean we have to fake happiness or that we’re expected not to feel sad, frustrated or angry. Instead we can be grateful for a path that not only explains suffering but gives us a way to uproot it. We can relax and lighten up, maintaining our sense of humor. We stay curious and interested in the world around us, appreciating even the ordinary. We can choose where we invest our attention. True joy is unconditional, allowing us to maintain a sense of equanimity and contentment. Chogyam Trungpa suggests an exercise to remind us to travel through life lightly:  “No matter what you are feeling or what is going on, smile at least once a day.”

Photo: Group of purple coneflowers.

            In North America, there are several indigenous cultures whose mythology sees the coyote as a “trickster.” Such an archetype teaches in unorthodox ways – often giving us things we think we do want (that we soon change our minds about) or giving us things we don’t want (that we later realize are actually gifts.) When I was young and single, I had 15 such “pups” in my care as a preschool teacher. Those three-year-old children were responsible for teaching me about the absurdity of perfection and the power of compassionate humor. One autumn day, after discussing the natural changes that came with the season, I decided we would take a walk outside. I gave each child a bag to gather leaves and acorns as we walked, intending to let them make a fall collage upon our return. When our mission was complete, we returned to the classroom, and each child was given a large sheet of Manila paper and glue for their bag of items. About 15 minutes later, George ran up to me with his work of art excitedly saying, “Look at all the acorns I found to put on my picture!” Drying in the glue were a dozen, perfectly round pieces of rabbit poo. I just smiled and told him it was absolutely beautiful, because through eyes of joy it was.