Dharma Vocabulary Lesson: Lojong

Written By Lama Döndrup

Tibetan:

Wylie Transliteration: blo sbyong
Phonetics: lo-jong

Lo: rational mind, ordinary consciousness, conceptual mind, intellect, attitude
Jong: train, learn, cleanse, purify, practice

English: mind training

While most of Buddha’s teachings could be described as method to train the mind, lojong is in a specific category of methods to train the mind or reorient ourselves to respond to ourselves, others, and the circum-stances of our lives from the perspective of altruism. These methods highlight the practices of equalizing self and other and ex-changing self and other.

There are many different lojong methods, all of which have an origin in the mind training teachings Atisha. Many of these consist of aphorisms or verses that can repeated and reflected on and subsequently used as reminders and guides to embody altruism in post-meditation practice.

Some well-known lojong teachings include:

  • Seven-Point Mind Training of Geshe Chekawa Yeshe Dorje

  • Eight Verses on Mind Training of Geshe Langri Thangpa

  • 37 Practices of a Bodhisattva by Gyalse Tokme Zangpo

Lama Döndrup

Lama Döndrup has been practicing and studying in the Buddhist tradition since the mid-1990’s. After five years of Theravadin Buddhist training, she immersed herself in the teachings and practices of the Shangpa and Kagyu Vajrayana lineages. In 2005, she completed a traditional three-year retreat under the guidance of Lama Palden and Lama Drupgyu with the blessing of her root guru, Bokar Rinpoche and was authorized as a lama. Upon her return to Marin County, she began teaching at Sukhasiddhi Foundation. In January 2020, as Lama Palden’s successor, she stepped into the role of Resident Lama, guiding the Center’s ministerial work. Lama Döndrup’s teaching style is thorough and clear yet with light touch as she supports the natural unfolding of each student’s innate wisdom and compassion. She aims to preserve the authenticity of the tradition while making the teachings and practices relevant and accessible to the lives of 21st century Westerners. In addition to her Buddhist practice, Lama Döndrup trained the Ridhwan School’s Diamond Approach for seven years and has a Masters of Fine Arts degree in piano performance. She is an active classical pianist and teacher in the San Francisco Bay Area.

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