 |
|
The actual meaning of a warrior in the Dharmic sense is subduing the enemy of the mind so as to remove the root of suffering.
Thrangu Rinpoche |
|
|
 |
|
Self-emptying/restoring/transcending
- Have at least one person with whom you share everything regarding your personal and professional life.
- Develop a daily spiritual practice, including meditation, that is grounded rather than idiosyncratic and merely personal. To begin, find an experienced spiritual director and explore a practice tradition such as Buddhist, contemplative Christian, Sufi, Hindu, or other. Take retreats.
- Identify and relate to a mature, experienced spiritual community.
- Hone your sense of humor. Buddhist joke: 99%of our problems have to do with our self--- and there isn't one!
- Everyone has problems. Relinquish the idea that
you have special reason to be depressed, anxious, or otherwise debilitated, and that you have no time to practice healthy living.
Self-expressing
- Develop non-professional commitments, passions, fun things, and service to others that generate joy and freedom.
- Participate in 12-step programs, men’s and women’s
groups, and other groups that include practices of complaining/confessing/forgiving.
- Learn to be a skilled advocate for yourself in asking for fair remuneration from your sources of income.
- Re-define and declare regularly to your "significant others" your deepest commitments and specific life goals.
Self-loving/healing/inquiry/development
- Use psychotherapy prophylactically:
1) To get over self-judgment and demandingness.
2) As treatment for depression, anxiety and other common symptoms of stress - (including using anti-depressants and other medications when needed.)
3) To work on your loving relationships.
4) To develop a positive outlook. Investigate cognitive therapy, especially "learned optimism," and other modalities.
- Engage in regular, appropriate physical activity, including yoga and other health programs.
- Consider the Hoffman Institute Quadrinity Process (www.hoffmaninstitute.org) as one way to clear up past attachments and free yourself. Look up www.hoffmaninstitute.org.
- Explore self-work programs, such as those of Gurdjieff (www.gurdjieff.org), A.H. Almaas (Diamond Heart Work) (www.ridhwan.org), The Forum (www.landmark-education.com), Byron Katie’s "The Work" (www.thework.org), and other programs.
- Do spiritual study and reading for devotion and practice.
Accountability
- Use consultants regularly (financial, organizational, etc) to support your personal and professional life.
- Stay in relationship with your friends and colleagues.
- Learn to delegate and enjoy others doing the work.
Five Books that might have a large impact on well-being:
- Lama Surya Das www.surya.org: Awakening The Buddha Within
- Cheryl Huber: The Depression Book, The Fear Book
- Byron Katie: Loving What Is
- Ken McLeod www.unfetteredmind.org: Wake Up To Your Life
- Harville Hendrix: Getting The Love You Want
|
|
|
|
