Cheri Langston is a longime Dharma student, a practitioner of the lojong or thought-training teachings, and devoted to His Holinesss the Dalai Lama. She has followed Ven. Chodron and Sravasti Abbey on the YouTube channel for decades. Eventually, she persuaded her kind husband to move across the country to live closer to the Abbey.

Cheri has volunteered in many ways, bringing baskets of flowers to hang in the spring, rolling enormous numbers of mantras, bringing up Southern-style cobblers, and working in the gardens among other offerings. She is also the painter of the beautiful rocks in our Book Nook, donations for which are dedicated to support the Buddha Hall.

Cheri has inspired us all with the depth of her thought-training practice as she lives with a long-term chronic illness. She recently sent this message to Ven. Chodron.

At a time when many people are struggling with adverse conditions, we thought Cheri’s commitment might inspire you too.

Dear Venerable Chodron,

Thank you for always helping me keep it real. Time and time again, teaching after teaching.

Sometimes I feel so sick I just want to cry. I want to feel well, be at the Abbey, bringing pies and veggies again!  Fortunately I am very aware of what’s arising in my mind at all times thanks to practice, so I catch myself immediately and remember all the negative karma I created in this life, not to mention lifetimes I can’t even remember, and I’m immediately grateful for the opportunity to burn up nasty karma in comfort.

And it is in comfort. I’m not homeless, or alone, I don’t have little children to take care of,  I don’t have to work to survive. I don’t live in an abusive relationship. I have good Healthcare.  I am extremely fortunate.

I have an old school friend who is healthy and has a full active life. And, sadly, has no appetite for Dharma. I wouldn’t swap my life with hers even if I was able to do so. I wouldn’t change my life for a perfectly healthy body even if I could.

Without the teachings you have so generously given over the years, I wouldn’t be where I am, and I am happy with my life because of my practice.

Lay woman and nun standing outdoors against a blue sky

Thought Training Resources

The thought training teachings are described in short, pithy instructions that emphasize how to bring adversity into the path to awakening. Both Ven. Thubten Chodron and Ven. Sangye Khadro have taught these extensively, most recently in Ven. Chodron’s six-talk series for the Dharmakaya Center in Reno, NV.

Use these resources to develop fortitude and resilience, confront the self-centered thought, and transform life problems to fuel your  bodhicitta motivation and attain awakening.