Calming the Mind in Turbulent Times: a teaching by Acharya Lama Tenpa Gyaltsen, Part Two
August 17, 2025
In the afternoon session, Acharya Lama Tenpa Gyaltsen guided us to reflect deeply on the nature of our restless mind and the importance of training it with patience, kindness, and discipline. In a world that constantly pulls our attention outward through work, devices, and endless activity, Lama Tenpa reminded us that true peace arises when we allow ourselves to do less and simply be.
He encouraged us to practice the art of “no action,” a gentle state of being that nurtures calm and clarity. By reducing unnecessary busyness and observing our thoughts and behaviors with awareness, we begin to experience how restlessness softens, and the mind gradually settles into stillness.
A simple yet powerful reminder was to keep our phones switched off during meditation. Lama Tenpa explained that even a brief distraction can disturb the quiet mind we are trying to cultivate. Turning off our phones is not merely a technical step, it is a symbolic act of trust in ourselves and in the present moment.
Through various breathing practices — belly breathing, counting breaths, breathing in light and positive energy like loving kindness — Lama guided us to reconnect with the natural rhythm of life. Each breath becomes an opportunity to release agitation, and to welcome lightness and compassion.
He encouraged everyone to commit to a 21-day meditation and mindfulness practice, combining breath awareness, visualization, and the meditation on the Tibetan letter “Ah.” This simple yet profound practice of breathing and visualization allows us to experience “no action” meditation, resting naturally without effort, grasping, or judgment.
Lama Tenpa also reminded us that meditation is not separate from joy. When we relax the grip of negativity and cultivate patience, humor, and playfulness, even life’s difficulties become lighter. A genuine sense of humor, he shared, can arise from understanding emptiness— allowing us to laugh with wisdom and warmth.
This teaching helped us to clearly see the root of modern restlessness: excessive activity and distraction prevent the mind from settling. The path of “no action” is not an escape from life but a mindful and balanced way of living that allows tranquility to arise naturally from within. The 21-day practice showed that discipline and gentleness can go hand in hand, and that transformation unfolds gradually through steady and compassionate effort.
We learned that tranquility is not achieved through suppression; it arises from simplicity, awareness, and acceptance. Every mindful breath is an act of returning to our own heart. We also came to understand that joy is an inseparable part of mindfulness. When we open our hearts and accept life as it is, joy naturally emerges. True mind training is not about control but about nurturing a compassionate heart, with softness and clarity.
In daily life, these teachings can be applied through small acts of mindfulness: creating moments to pause throughout the day, turning off electronic devices, slowing our pace, and observing the mind’s changes without judgment. Even just a few minutes of sitting quietly each day can build a stable foundation for inner peace. In tense moments, we can practice “no action”— pausing before reacting and allowing clarity to guide our words and actions. When we face challenges with humor and lightness, we remember that wisdom can also appear in the form of laughter. By bringing awareness into everyday activities — walking, eating, working— we allow tranquility to permeate our lives.
In closing, we were reminded that the essence of the path is consistent practice: nurturing a peaceful and compassionate heart every day. When the program coordinator, Patricia Wu, expressed gratitude to Lama Tenpa and all who supported this teaching, we were left with a sense of quiet inspiration: to bring mindfulness into each moment, to nurture our compassionate heart, to act with less haste, and to rediscover joy in the simple experience of being.
Patricia, Tommy, and Tom
Members of Nalandabodhi York
動盪時代裡的靜定心：阿闍黎喇嘛滇巴嘉晨教導 (第二部分)
2025年8月17日
在這場下午的課程中，阿闍黎喇嘛滇巴嘉晨引導我們深刻地反觀自己那顆不安的心，並體悟以耐心、慈悲與自律來訓練心的重要性。在這個不斷將我們的注意力往外拉扯的世界中；透過工作、科技與無止盡的活動。喇嘛提醒我們，真正的平靜源於「少做一點，而只是單純地存在」。
他鼓勵我們修習「無為」之道的藝術，那是一種溫柔而覺知的存在狀態，能滋養內在的平靜與清明。當我們減少不必要的忙碌，帶著覺察觀察自己的念頭與行為時，就能體會到不安如何逐漸軟化，心也漸漸安住於自然的寧靜之中。
喇嘛特別提醒我們在打坐時應關掉手機。他說，即使是片刻的分心，也可能擾動我們正努力培養的靜心狀態。關掉手機不僅是一個技術性的動作，更是一種信任，信任自己，也信任當下的片刻。這小小的外在行動，其實象徵著我們內在的願心與決心。
透過各種呼吸練習：如腹式呼吸、數息、觀想光明與吸入正向能量如愛與慈悲等。喇嘛引導我們重新連結生命的自然節奏。每一次呼吸，都是釋放煩躁與迎接輕安與慈心的契機。
喇嘛進一步鼓勵大家進行為期21天的禪修與正念練習，結合覺知呼吸、觀想，以及觀修藏文字母「阿（Ah）」的禪修。這種簡單卻深奧的修持，讓我們能體驗「無為」的禪修 : 自然安住，無需用力、不需執取，也不需判斷。
喇嘛滇巴也提醒我們，禪修並非與喜悅分離。當我們放鬆對負面情緒的束縛，培養耐心、幽默與輕鬆的心態，即使面對生活中的困難，也會變得較為輕盈。他分享說，真正的幽默感源自對「空性」的理解。當我們以智慧與溫暖的心看待一切，笑容便自然綻放。
這堂教導讓我們清楚看見現代人不安的根源：過度的活動與分心使心無法安定。而「無為」之道並非逃避生活，而是一種有覺知、有平衡的生活方式，讓寧靜自然地從內心升起。21天的修持說明了紀律與溫柔可以並行，而轉化是在持續與慈悲的努力中逐步展開。
從喇嘛的話語中，我們學到：寧靜並非靠壓抑獲得，而是源於單純、覺察與接納。每一次專注的呼吸，都是回到自心的行動。我們也明白，喜悅是正念不可分割的一部分。當我們放開心胸，接受生命原本的樣貌時，喜悅自然隨之而生。真正的心訓不是控制，而是以柔軟與清明來滋養一顆慈悲之心。
在日常生活中，這些教導可以透過小小的正念行動落實：我們可以在一天中造片刻停頓：關掉電子設備、放慢步調、以及覺察心念的變化而不作判斷。即使每天僅有幾分鐘的靜坐，也能為內在的平靜奠定穩固的基礎。在緊張的時刻，我們可以練習「無為」，於反應前稍作停頓，讓清明引導我們的言行。當我們以幽默與輕鬆的心面對挑戰時，也會記起智慧有時會以笑聲的形式呈現。透過將覺察帶入日常的行為，無論是步行、進食或工作，我們讓寧靜融入其中。
最後，我們被提醒：修行的核心在於持續不斷的練習，每天培養一顆平靜而慈悲的心。當项目統籌 Patricia Wu 代表大家向喇嘛滇巴及所有協助此教學的成員表達感謝時，整個場中瀰漫著一份靜靜的啟發：讓自己少一些匆忙，以耐心與慈心結伴前行，在單純的「存在」中重新發現喜悅。
