Cattāri Brahmavihārā

I continuously find myself drawn back to the lojong teachings despite the misgivings I have about certain doctrinal points. It occurred to me today that I may as well make use of what I can and that the best way for me to do so would be to recast (where) the maxims of the traditional lojong teachings in the modl of a more orthodox Theravadin view. Of course, reinterpreting and more or less repurposing a system of thought and training cannot but engender any number of problems and questions and my own hubris in thinking that I am qualified to do so is only the most obvious of them. Still, despite my meager understaing of lojong and the Theravada I feel the need to work with these teachings in a way that, to me at least, feels sincere and honest. What that means is trying to understand the mind training teachings in light of the Pali canon and without the benefit of a Mahayana hermeneutic or metaphysical edifice. The result is at times slight with little to no change being affected and at others requires the complete reimagining of a slogan. My only hope is that while working with these teachings and recasting them according to my own flawed understanding I become a kinder person with a deeper understanding of and commitment to the Dhamma. This, and only this, would vindicate what otherwise may be a vainglorious and deluded attempt to make the Dhamma into my own image.