[brucecowen]

I’ve found that by being in a state of love and compassion and seeing all negatives as empty, you’ll find that confidence and certainty are naturally there.  The key for me has been guru yoga.

[marvocotto]

Oh really? How do you practice Guru yoga?

[nick]

Marvin, the traditional answer as I understand it is learning, reflecting,and meditating. Since we are here and have met with qualified teachers this shows our interest in making our lives more workable/meaningful in accord with Dharma.

So it is natural for our strong interest to wish sincerely to learn what this is all about!

This interest and learning builds trust.

Trust that this thing -Dharma practice- might work out.

Even a small amount of trust in the Dharma will build up as our interest becomes greater.

I think it is this idea that ‘this can work’ is the basis for the confidence you mention.

For “confidence in myself”, this will develop and deepen as we continue learning reflecting and meditating.

After all, understanding the process and getting engaged in the work is what it’s all about!

Enjoy 🙂

[brucecowen]

Guru yoga is the fourth part of Ngondro.

[nick]

What to learn in the beginning? One might ask.

The tradition is the four thoughts that turn the mind towards dharma:

https://tsoknyirinpoche.org/2575/web-teaching-i-2/

 

 

[marvocotto]

Is self confidence and confidence in the Dharma interdependent?

[nick]

That sounds like a philosophical question, Marvin.

Breaking it down to four objects to explore:

self

confidence

self confidence

interdependent

 

Do you like to study philosophy?

 

[brucecowen]

I found that completing Ngondro turns the mind to Dharma, too.