Five Methods to Deal with Disturbing Thoughts

In this teaching on “The Five Methods for Dealing with Disturbing Thoughts”, Khenpo Sherab Sangpo, a Professor of Buddhist Philosophy and Spiritual Director of Bodhicitta Sangha | Heart of Enlightenment Institute, teaches his students methods for working with emotions and thoughts that disrupt their meditation practice and cause worry in their daily life. Diminishing negative emotions allows one to awaken to buddha-nature at any time; as our innate awakened nature is always with us. The five methods are, in brief, to think compassionate thoughts as an antidote to negative ones; reflect on the painful outcomes of negative thoughts and let those thoughts go; distract oneself from thoughts that are too strong to control; question the root of one’s thinking and recognize that one’s mind is vaster than the thought; and know when to “let go” of a thought with willpower and deal with it post-meditation. The second part of the teaching is filed with practical advice on developing an appreciation of meditation and embodying compassion as a lifelong practice that can be taken slowly with patience and an open, spacious mind. Khenpo Sherab Sangpo encourages his students to recognize that they are responsible for their spiritual practice; to be creative in finding solutions to their own obstacles; and to be patient with themselves. Slowly over time the Dharma can change one’s mind and soften one’s heart as the teachings come from the blessings of the Buddha’s compassionate mind.