Running with the Mind of Meditation: Lessons for Training Body and Mind

155 Pages·2012·0.72 MB·English

by  Sakyong Mipham

Copyright © 2012 by Mipham J. Mukpo
All rights reserved.
Published in the United States by Harmony Books,
an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of
Random House, Inc., New York.
www.crownpublishing.com
Harmony Books is a registered trademark and the Harmony Books
colophon is a trademark of Random House, Inc.
Grateful acknowledgment is made to Shambhala Media for permission
to reprint “Freedom” from Snow Lion’s Delight: 108 Poems by
Sakyong Mipham. Copyright © 2005 by Sakyong Mipham.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, 1962–
Running with the mind of meditation : lessons for training body
and mind / Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche. —1st ed.
p. cm.
1. Meditation—Buddhism. 2. Spiritual life—Buddhism.
3. Running—Religious aspects—Buddhism. I. Title.
BQ5612.S235 2012
294.3’4435—dc23
2011029751
eISBN: 978-0-307-88818-1
Jacket design by Jennifer O’Connor
Jacket photography © Philip and Karen Smith/Getty Images
v3.1
To the well-being of my wife, Khandro Tseyang,
and my daughter, Jetsun Drukmo
Contents
Cover
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Preface
PART I: RUNNING WITH THE MIND OF
MEDITATION
1. Running with the Mind of Meditation
2. Building a Base
3. The Breath
4. How to Meditate
5. Taming the Horse
6. Peaceful Abiding and Contemplation
7. Difficulty in the Beginning
8. Motivation
9. Marathon
10. Tiger, Lion, Garuda, Dragon
PART II: TIGER
11. Mindfulness
12. Posture
13. Feelings
14. Full-Heartedness
15. Running with Realities
16. Just Do It—with Gentleness
17. Taking on More without the Worry
18. Walking and Yoga
19. Confidence
Tiger Contemplation: Motivation
PART III: LION
20. The Sweetness of Virtue
21. Panoramic Awareness
22. Healthiness
23. How to Deal with Pain
24. Running and Meditating to Refresh
25. Happiness
26. Pride
Lion Contemplation: Good Fortune
PART IV: GARUDA
27. Garuda
28. Beyond Hope and Fear
29. Spontaneity
30. Trails, Hills, and Weather
31. Mind Like Sky
32. Accurate Assessment
33. Too Far Out
Garuda Contemplation: Love and Kindness
PART V: DRAGON
34. The Dragon
35. The Dragon’s Breath
36. What Is the Mind?
37. The Power of Intention
Dragon Contemplation: Compassion and Selflessness
PART VI: WINDHORSE
38. Conversation
39. Peace Run
40. Windhorse
Windhorse Contemplation: Basic Goodness
Epilogue
“Freedom”
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Victorious Vairotsana,
May your swift feet take us to enlightenment
Preface
Throughout my life, I have always enjoyed some sport. In my role as a
spiritual leader and a Tibetan lama, I have been trained in
horsemanship, archery, and sacred dance, as well as martial arts. I have
always felt that some kind of physical activity was essential for well-
being, as it gives a sense of confidence and enthusiasm.
It was only later in life that I took up running in a serious way.
Running has been a real joy for me, an opportunity to be outdoors and
to meet new people. It has benefited my health and well-being and has
allowed me to offer something back to the world.
Meditation is something I have done throughout my whole life, and it
is part of my cultural and spiritual heritage. Over the years, I have been
asked on numerous occasions to put some thoughts down regarding the
relationship between mind and body. Eventually I was asked to write a
book on the topic of running and meditation. At that time, I felt I needed
more experience as a runner, so I ran several marathons, which gave me
some insight into the training process.
To me, the relationship between meditation and running is natural, for
one is a training of the mind and one is a training of the body. However,
I am hardly an expert on running. This book is therefore not a training
manual, but a guide to integrating particular elements of meditation into
the activity of running. I offer basic meditation instruction and explain
those fundamental principles I have found helpful in running. I also give
pithy instructions and some themes that might be helpful in integrating
running with the mind of meditation. Even though both activities can be
complicated, I have kept the themes simple, trying to show where they
overlap.
Meditation is an essential and integral part of my life, and combining
the principles of meditation with running has been a delightful
experience. I certainly hope the reader enjoys both activities, as I have.
Meditate with delight and run with joy. See you on the cushion or on
the trails!