WHY OUR OWN THOUGHTS THAT SCARE US - & HOW TO FACE THEM
In today’s episode, Kadam Lucy James explores the challenges of modern life and the difficulty many people face in keeping their mind peaceful. Drawing on her experience and the teachings of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, she explains how our minds are often dominated by uncontrolled, anxious, or judgmental thoughts - a state that has become normalized in today’s fast-paced, distraction-filled world. She points out that most people are unable to sit quietly with their own thoughts, and so are forced to fill their life with busyness and distraction, which creates a vicious circle of mental pain.
Using the powerful analogy of the mind as a vast, clear sky and thoughts as passing clouds, she demonstrates how meditation helps us step back from our delusions, gain perspective, and cultivate a deeper sense of self. This episode emphasizes that peace is already present within us, and by gently letting go of distracting thoughts, we can develop the space to be able to deal with things in a more constructive way.
Chapters:
00:00 Peace and Letting Go
02:00 The Basics of Meditation
06:26 Modern Life and Distractions
11:03 Experiment on Sitting with Thoughts
15:45 Fear of Our Own Mind
20:12 Uncontrolled Thoughts and Judgment
24:40 The Mind as a Sky
29:10 Breathing Meditation Practice
34:25 Experiencing Inner Peace
39:00 Building a Healthy Sense of Self
43:50 Long-Term Benefits of Meditation
Book References
Modern Buddhism:
https://kadampa.org/book/modern-buddhism
How to Transform Your Life :
https://howtotyl.com/
Kadam Lucy James is a senior teacher within the New Kadampa Tradition, an international Buddhist tradition with over a thousand meditation centers worldwide.
Want More?
Find a meditation center near you :
https://kadampa.org/nkt-center-search/?lang=en
Listen to teaching clips :
https://open.spotify.com/show/5QPCFEyZz74nOHZbQr1B4z
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