Running with the Mind of Meditation Review - Part 2 - Tiger and Lion

The Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche is the leader of Shambhala, a worldwide community of centers to help people enrich their lives either through the Shambhala Buddhist study and training or through hosted courses. He’s written many books and teaches all over the world. He’s now written a book about running and meditation called Running with the Mind of Meditation. This isn’t the first book to combine spiritual elements with athletics endeavors, in this case running; it is the first written by an important worldwide spiritual leader. It’s written with the depth and length of his experience as a spiritual leader, and with many years of running and training including 9 marathon finishes. That combination is what brings the unique flavor of this book.

The book itself is written in six sections: Running with the mind of meditation, Tiger, Lion, Garuda, Dragon, Windhorse. The titles of each section come from the Shambhala tradition and path of warriorship where each section builds on, deepens, and includes previous sections. This review will also be written in several sections to capture the -----essence of each section and how to enfolds into the next.

Part 1 of this Review is here.

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The Tiger dignity of the Shambhala tradition is about establishing a foundation, or in running terms, buliding a base. Mipham describes the primary principle of the Tiger foundation as mindfulness. This is about paying attention to your mind, your body, and how you practice. Since there is discipline involved as a Tiger, Mipham ascribes the slogan "Friendly to yourself" as part of this phase.

Mipham then devotes several chapters to important aspects of mindfulness noting that attention should be brought to posture, feelings, thoughts, and attitudes. Just as with running, being mindful is like exercise the muscle of the mind so that it progressively gets stronger. Each piece needs some consideration.

Of course with this mindfulness and focus, Mipham is very encouraging with all the benefits that will come forth with this practice. More vitality, focus confidence, better posture, fuller breath, healthier body, empowerment, confidence, and more.

The emphasis of the chapter Running with Realities is to start slow, and with an appropriate pace for each one of us, to be consistent incorporating the practice of running and meditation part of a daily routine. Breaking the long-term goals into manageable chunks is important to stay present. Throughout this phase, this is constant learning and finding the new balance of growth without pressing too far. As with the rest of the book, Mipham reminds us to be gentle with ourselves, or "to be gentle is to encourage ourselves."

The Tiger phase is a journey of discovery and growth. This is where the foundation is built to enable each of us to move towards Lion.

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Mipham starts the Lion section with this, "One day quite naturally and nonchalantly, I found myself slipping on my running shoes and running out the door with ease and pleasure." This is the heart of the Lion dignity, to be joyful in your running, to enjoy the ease you've created, and to celebrate what you've accomplished thus far.

The Lion doesn't forget all that was learned as a Tiger, mindfulness, discipline, and awareness are still important. Now the awareness expands, both internally and externally.

Externally, Mipham calls this expanded awareness 'panoramic awareness'. In this phase, we are taking in more of the external world. Noticing more flowers, shadows, smells, anything and everything. Through this panoramic awareness, we are taking in and connecting to our surroundings, and all at once finding ourselves in a stronger, more intimate relationship with the world.

Internally is a knowing of our basic healthiness that's always there. We might have an injury, or have a tough run, and still that healthiness is present and will return. This connection within ourselves helps us to relate to pain of any kind (physical or mental), happiness, and sadness in new ways. We are no longer swayed or so attached to any of it. The experience is still there, but the disciplined and focused mind stays present and uses the opportunity to grow and mature.

With the intrinsic joy of being in this phase, our approach to the world changes. We can 'check our ago at the door' as Mipham says and enjoy our growing confidence, strength, and broadened awareness.