Beloveds, we’ve been reflecting on living the lojong slogans for a couple of weeks now. How about we take a pause for today, catch our breath, and reflect back on the four preliminaries.

How are you honoring the unique and precious gift of your life today? Look around. Breathe deep. All of this aliveness you see? It’s precious. Cherish it.

Sweetheart, everything and everyone dies. This is just the way of things. It can be so hard, but it can also bring us deeper into love and compassion. What feels most important to you when you take the time to remember that you, too, will die?

Everything we say and do, every action we take (and every one we don’t take) has an affect far beyond ourselves. What we do and say matters. It is an awesome responsibility. Are you awake to it today?

And dear one, suffering cannot be avoided. Don’t we wish it could. We would just become A+ experts at suffering avoidance. We would all have Suffering Avoidance PhDs. But that’s just not life on earth. Suffering comes to everyone. The question is, will you let it harden you, or will you let it break you open?

So, here are the four preliminaries, once again. Take a moment to receive their wisdom. Give yourself a few breaths to allow them to simmer within. They are a holy invitation.

Life is precious. Death comes for all. Everything we do and say has a result. Suffering comes to everyone.

Now, live accordingly.