Lojong 15) Whatever you encounter, immediately apply it to meditation.

Meet everything with awareness.

3. Using Adversity (11-15)

The meaning of this saying is clear as soon as we realize it is in the section called Using Adversity.  The meaning of this saying is actually a common theme in the Lojong slogans.  A common pitfall is to take an adverse event as a only a setback.  It may be a setback, but it is also an opportunity for increased awareness. Often these (so called) adverse events present the best opportunities to develop awareness. 

All that occurs is simply what happened, however, we have a tendency to label things as either an adverse event or an advantageous event; or simply labeled either good or bad.  Upon only casual inspection we can see that whatever occurs is actually neither good nor bad, but it just is what happened.  

Lojong 11 suggests that "adversity" may be a particularly good opportunity to develop awareness, but even those things we label as fortunate or advantageous are also great opportunities for development.  And if we take this Lojong to heart we will realize that everything is an opportunity to develop awareness.  

Mindfulness is "to be present in this moment".  Proper application of meditation to each moment is not contrary to being fully present, but is simply another way to describe being present.

How does one reach a place of equanimity, in which events are neither good nor bad?  It is through the process of applying this Lojong:  Whatever you encounter, immediately apply it to meditation.

Update on Monday, November 17, 2014 by Patrick C Quinn, PhD, MHA

This morning it was raining, so a bunch of leaves fell on my car.  I reached over the car to remove them and got a grease spot on my khaki pants.  My meditation was similar to the saying of Master Oogway (Kung Fu Panda, 2008), "One often meets his destiny on the path he takes to avoid it."

Thinking of Master Oogway reminded me of another favorite:

Shifu: Master! I have... it's very bad news! 
Oogway: Ah, Shifu. There is just news. There is no good or bad. 
Shifu: Master, your vision. Your vision was right! Tai-Lung has broken out of prison! He's on his way! 
[pause] 
Oogway: That IS bad news. 

Lojong 14) Emptiness comes in meditation on the four Kayas

a.  all is empty

b.  first arising of compassion from emptiness

c. compassion without conditions

d. simply being with distinctions, categories, diversions

3. Using Adversity (11 - 15)

It may seem to those unfamiliar with Buddhist Philosophy that it is pessimistic and negative.  Of course, this is only a misunderstanding.

First it naturally arises that "all is empty".  There are no exceptions to this.  "I am" starts out with wrong understanding.  Admittedly, "What seems to be me" appears to have substance and existence outside of this moment.  

Meditation on this eventually leads to the truth that all is empty and if contemplated a bit longer there is an arising of compassion in this.  Compassion for: what I experience as myself and for all sentient beings who struggle with the false perception of self (and other forms of ego clinging). 

With a little more time with the understanding that all is empty and the arising of compassion in this place, it becomes clear compassion has no conditions.  With mediation of emptiness we move beyond the simple minded "I will be compassionate to those who are compassionate to me." - which is clearly wrong thinking.  We move to compassion without conditions.  In this moment, "I" have compassion for every sentient being, no matter what his or her condition (either good or bad).  It is the same for those that deserve it (no matter what “it” is) and those who appear not to.  It is not my place to intentionally inflict suffering upon others in a misguided attempt to be an agent of Karma.  Karma operates by mechanisms over which I have no direct control.  (On another topic all together, I am not obliged to enable other's misconduct either.)  

And then with continued meditation on emptiness "I" come to simply being, again.  

I am simply in this moment with compassion

Lojong 13) Be grateful to everyone

3. Using Adversity (11 – 15)

Obstacles presented by others are some of the very best opportunities to develop.

    You may begin using this saying with the most obvious opportunities.  This occurs when we encounter the irritating and sadly unenlightened people we meet each day.  These are people like the rude ones who honk at us from their cars, or break in line, or are incompetent at their jobs.  I recently had a "customer service" experience with my cellular telephone carrier that was a huge opportunity for me to learn from adversity.  (Why yes, it was AT&T, how did you know?)  I will not burden you with all of the details.  The point is that while I may have compassion for the ignorance and suffering the "service representatives" cause for themselves and others, I still have to take care of business.  I attempted to do this without becoming so perturbed that it interfered with my peace of mind, while at the same time holding on to the energy needed to do what it took to resolve the issue.  (Such as send a registered letter to the company president, contact my state attorney general, etc.)  I was just trying to be funny when I called my issue with AT&T, "the mother of all Jihads".)  My issue was resolved after a few weeks.

     I felt anger and compassion for the ignorance of the "service representatives".  Anger for the obvious reason, and compassion because they were obviously stuck in an employment situation in which they were instructed by someone to say, "we don't have to refund all the money; do you want the $150.00 or not".  (I was able to obtain the entire $1200 that AT&T owed me.)

     However, I contend this sort of situation is relatively easy to use as an opportunity because there is a clear discrimination, from my expectation of what will happen to that which actually occurred.  The same is true of the honked horn.  It may actually jar me into awareness of the opportunity it presents to examine my own issues; and it abruptly challenges my ability to have compassion in action.  These abrupt and clearly external situations are easier than situations in relationships with others that are maintained on a daily or even intimate basis.

     In these intimate relationships, the emotions, issues, and problems are more complicated.  How do I know when my own behavior has set the occasion for the behavior in the other person?  It is so much easier when the opportunity for enlightenment hits us out of the blue.  When it creeps up on us day by day, it is much harder to be fully aware.

     My suggestion for using this Lojong is simply start with the opportunities that are easily discriminated, then gradually work your way up to analyzing how your intimate relationships provide opportunities to develop.

Lojong 12) Drive all blame into one.

3. Using Adversity (11 – 15)

Suffering has no other cause than ego clinging.

    This slogan is pretty dogmatic.  It would only take one example of suffering without ego clinging as a primary component, to undermine it.  Please post an example if you have one.

    The only caveat for posting a counter example is that suffering is not the same as pain or discomfort.  We are all aware that the world is full of pain and discomfort.  Pain transforms into suffering when I demand that it be something else.  This point has been made many times and in many places.  Radical acceptance is not that I change my view to allow that everything is just and right.  There are many things that are not fair, just or right.  The point of a radical acceptance is that suffering results when I fail to accept that the event has occurred or is occurring.

    Radical Acceptance does not mean that as soon as I accept that an event has occurred, I am no longer in a position to make an effort to change it or correct it.  It is argued that I am in a much better position to make an effective effort to change the event because I have accepted its reality.  I am no longer blinded by my demand that things be different than they are.  Examples, of demanding that things be different are things like, “I can't stand it when this happens.”,  “I can't believe he did this to me.” , “I just can't accept this diagnosis.”,  “This just is not fair.”  etc.  Each of these statements represent a barrier to seeing reality clearly and result in suffering in addition to the pain of the event. 

    The root of every demand that things be different than reality is my clinging to “but I do not want it to be this way” and the corollary “things should, must or ought to be the way I want.”

God grant me the serenity 
to accept the things I cannot change; 
courage to change the things I can;
 and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time; 
enjoying one moment at a time; 
accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; 
taking, as He did, this sinful world
 as it is, not as I would have it; ....

(IMJ: the rest of this silos into ego clinging, but up to this point it is really well said.)

   --Reinhold Niebuhr

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Lojong 11.) When evil fills the world, change adversity into the path of awakening. (Each obstacle is a chance to wake up)

3. Using Adversity (11-15)

11) When evil fills the world, change adversity into the path of awakening.  (Each obstacle is a chance to wake up)

1/12/20, Addendum:   I have been doing work on this saying nearly every day for the past 3 years or so.  Is it possible to be Aware (of what is happening in the world around us) and to find Peace of Mind?  I think there is:  by using this and other Lojong sayings, for the big adversity in the world and for the small (inconsequential) adversities in everyday life.  

There is often an intersection in the big and small events. Why does the constant lying of certain politicians, cause me such distress. One could argue it is because these are a larger violation of trust and violation ethical conduct.  By now, my reaction to these lies should simply be resolve and motivation for change, yet I still become emotionally aroused by them.  This emotional arousal, is still an opportunity for enlightenment (about myself.)

Original post:
Most of the time our chances to wake up are not presented by evil in the world; but a much more familiar source.  That source is our own reaction to others.  If someone says, does, writes, (or whatever) something that really pushes my button, I can be sure it is not about them.  It is clearly about me.  It is my own projection on the other person that causes my reaction and presents me with such an excellent opportunity to increase my awareness.  

Recently, I saw a post on another Buddhist site that provided a very good if there is such a thing (... oops there I go again) presentation on reincarnation.  Reincarnation discussions in any form, no matter how reasonable, just push my button.  I am still meditating on why this is.  On the surface level it is, of course, because the common understanding of reincarnation is such a barrier to enlightenment due to it's intense ego-clinging.  At a second level, even rational and reasonable discussions of reincarnation push my button because I believe discussing anything about reincarnation gives the ridiculous common usage understanding of it, more credence than it deserves. 

But I am sure there must be something else here for me.  While I clearly understand I can not know anything about the events after death, does that mean I really have to give credence to patently ridiculous and ignorant (.... whoa, here's that button again.)

Perhaps it is because I want so much for Buddhism to fit for me, that this "fly in the ointment" is such a bother.  Thank goodness for Philosophical Buddhism. 

This is similar to the problem I have with Christianity.  The message of Jesus, if we could ever truly know it, is so appealing.  But in my judgment the typical practices, conduct, and doctrines, of Christians are such a disappointment.  Despite The Jesus Project, the Jefferson Bible, etc., a satisfying Christian message is hard to find.

Back to the point, I constantly find my projections to be some of the best opportunities to practice Lojong and from that to learn about myself and release suffering.   (And as you can see from this post, I am having some really good opportunities for growth right now!)

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