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The Essence of Practice is a Kind Mind - Red Things on Tuesday
The Essence of Practice is a Kind MindI was listening to a talk about The Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life by Shantideva, tuaght by Khenpo Sherab Sangpo. One thing he said really stood out. He said, "The essence of dharma practice is a kind mind" He boiled it down to its essence in one short sentence. It's not that complicated. The mind makes it complicated. The mind that would rather be right than kind. What does this have to do with Psychedelics? Everything. I talk to people all the time who tell me they want to kill the ego. When I ask them to tell me what they mean by 'the ego,' they freeze. Most of us don't have a good definition of it. With a little poking and prodding, I discover they are usually talking about some kind of unkind inner monologue. They have a head full of judgment, criticism, and comparison. It's loud in there, and they want some quiet. Because it's violent, they often respond with violence. They feel they must kill it. It doesn't help that these phrases "kill the ego" and "ego death" have somehow found their way into our parlance. It seems like a worthy goal. But it doesn't work. If someone is fated to experience ego death at all, it never lasts. In their book, The Psychedelic Experience, the Three Amigos tell us that ego death is a momentary experience. It can be useful, but it's temporary. What works better than trying to kill the ego? What works better than trying to kill the ego is training the mind to be kind. Because it's possible. From the perspective of the ego, it seems like becoming kind is infinitely more difficult, but in reality it's infinitely easier, because it's actually possible. It's easier to do a hard possible thing than an attractive, mystical, romantic impossible thing every time. From my experience, it's hard to train the mind to be kind. It takes vigilance, humility, and courage. It's hard to stop the huge snowball that's already rolling down the hill, to turn the bus around while it's moving at top speed. I'm constantly trying to defend my position, my self-esteem, my rightness. I'm constantly judging people for strange little reasons, and I'm constantly judging myself. "What's the Kind Thought?" Is a question I ask myself to diffuse all this chaos: "How can I be generous with my mind right now?" Another is, "How can I be generous with my mind right now?" Shit happens. Life is a mixed bag. 2025 had it's ups and downs, 2026 will have it's ups and downs. Of this we can be sure. I hope 2025 has been mostly great for you, and I hope that 2026 is mostly great too. But most of all, I wish you a kind mind. A kind mind will weather all the storms. Happy holidays, and may you have a kind mind. The Tam Integration Coaching Training Program - Let's practice being kind together.Coaching Training starts February 3rd and runs through the end of June. You'll learn how to work with polarities, paradoxes, and mysteries. You'll sit in the silence and the weirdness until it feels like home. You'll delve into your mind, and the minds of your classmates, and come out kinder and wiser for it. The program offers a wide range of tools & coaching models that give you the framework you need to make use of your gifts.
Training Modules include:
Save if you register before Next Monday (some very short extentions might be available) https://tamintegration.com/psychedelic-coach-training/ Integration Coaching Training Info Session - Tonight!December 23rd, 5pm Pacific, 8pm Eastern The Guide The Music That Moves Me The Golden RoadThe Golden Road has evolved into a wonderful group of practitioners. The wonderful people who show up share not only their journeys, but the journeys of those they steward. It's become a place of learning, support, accountability, and peer review. Folks are learning some things from me, but they are also learning from each other. We all face unique challenges as we work in this space, and it's great to have a place where we can bring them for non-judgmental feedback and reflection. You're invited. Click here to join! The sensitive stuff isn't recorded; that's just for those of us in the room, but there are many teachings that are. There is a growing collection of masterclasses designed for coaches, guides, and therapists. Here are some of the upcoming live masterclasses: The Wisdom of the Chakras as a Clearing Tool with Carla Detchon As a Life Coach for over 20 years, Carla helps clients integrate transformational time periods in their lives such as psychedelic experiences, mid-life crises, divorce or career transitions, using energy tools, guided meditations and integration practices. DisclaimerNothing in this email should be considered medical or legal advice. We're not suggesting that you break any laws or do anything dangerous. This email is offered as education and entertainment in the spirit of harm reduction. Consult medical and legal professionals if you have questions. Sometimes, there are affiliate links in this email. It helps support this project. Thank you! |
Tam Integration
Cultivate Your Wisdom as an Integration Professional. Join 13k+ subscribers to Red Things on Tuesday. Every week, you'll get a small, curated collection of music, tips, and psychedelic insight on how to move through this ever evolving psychedelic space.
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