Lama Tsultrim Allione Teaches Wisdom"When we try to fight against or repress the disowned parts of ourselves that I call demons, they actually gain power and develop resistance. In feeding our demons we are not only rendering them harmless, we are also, by addressing them instead of turning away from them, nurturing the shadow parts of ourselves, so that the energy caught in the struggle transforms into a positive protective force."
-Lama Tsultrim Allione in Feeding Your Demons: Ancient Wisdom for Resolving Inner Conflict |
Within the teachings of Tibetan Buddhism lies a meditation for facing, and transforming our demons: fears, anxiety, depression, anger, addictions and illnesses. This approach offers a new paradigm, moving away from the heroes journey of destroying what opposes us, to one of feeding rather than fighting those parts of ourselves or our world that we would normally fight against. Using a 5-step, active meditation process developed by Lama Tsultrim Allione, this approach creates integration within the psyche as the demons transform into allies through inclusion and nurturing. Although we frequently use the term demon to describe what we need to transform, this practice can also be applied to gods, our obsessive longings. Upon careful and compassionate consideration, we realize that our hopes and desires can be as problematic as our fears. Fortunately, our gods, like their demonic counterparts, can be turned into allies using the same five-step practice.
In 2008 Polly completed the educational and practice requirements of the Kapala Training and is authorized by Lama Tsultrim to be a Feeding Your Demons Therapist and Trainer. She has used this powerful practice to help many people with a variety of issues and difficulties. To learn more, read Feeding Your Demons by Lama Tsultrim Allione and visit her website at www.taramandala.org. |