Tibetan
Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism
Chögyam Trungpa
Why it matters
Challenges the ego's subtle habit of turning spiritual practice into a dualistic project of acquisition or self-improvement.
The tradition behind it
Tibetan Buddhism brings together Indian Buddhist philosophy, meditation and compassion training. Many of its teachers emphasise working directly with the mind, seeing through spiritual self-improvement as another trap of the ego.
Try it in practice
- Name the groove
Say plainly: this is an old groove, not a fresh fact. Then notice you are the one noticing it. A groove seen is a groove no longer running you.
- Breathe for both
Breathe in the version of this that others also carry; breathe out relief. Let the trouble stop being only yours for a few breaths.