Snow Lion of Perkiness (Part 2 of Four–Part Series
This metaphor of the snow lion represents joyful discipline. You might have negative associations with discipline, remembering times you were forced to stay indoors and practice a musical instrument or do homework when all your neighborhood friends were playing outside. When discipline is imposed like this from the outside, it can seem suffocating. But here we are speaking of discipline that arises organically from within yourself.
SNOW LION
In Tibet it's said that the Snow Lion is found in meadows at high elevations. He roams freely among wild flowers and fresh air. He's perky because he is uplifted and cheerful. If you are grounded in your practice through the meekness of the Tiger, your discipline arises as an organic, uplifted quality. And because this discipline is not dependent on any circumstances, it is unconditional.
Chogyam Trungpa says there are two stages of perkiness. The first is having an uplifted and joyful mind. No matter how difficult your circumstances you can lift yourself up; you can cheer yourself up and your ability to do this brings enormous confidence in your own sanity.
The second stage of perky is never being dragged down by doubt. When you are ungrounded you begin to doubt yourself. This creates anxiety, paranoia, and arrogance. The Snow Lion overcomes this doubt and keeps you from descending into further negativity which in Buddhism is referred to as the lower realms.
In the first realm you can be trapped by living purely for the sake of survival, living impulsively at the level of a pure animal instinct. In the second realm you are trapped in a poverty mentality that experiences constant hunger and fear of losing your life. And in the third, you are in a state of constant anger, warfare and turmoil. You are at war with reality itself.
The Snow Lion frees you from these lower realms and gives birth to a joyful and friendly relationship with your world.
NO ONE TO BLAME
When you doubt yourself, you can easily become defensive and strike out at others through anger, jealousy or severe judgments. You blame others and you often find you are blaming yourself as well. The discipline of the Snow Lion guards against this kind of unskillful behavior. When you work with your projections with integrity, you own them. In this way you become a dignified human being proclaiming the dharma not just in words but in your conduct and behavior.
HEART OF THE MATTER
The Tiger of meekness grounds and orients you to a clear and meaningful spiritual path. This naturally leads to further clarity and the joyful, uplifted perkiness of the Snow Lion. You discover rich resources within yourself for responding to problems. You begin to roam in the vastness of the highlands, where the Snow Lion dances among the fresh wildflowers. You are inspired to let go further to trust your sad and tender heart.
Roshi Robert Joshin Althouse is the Abbot of the Zen Life & Meditation Center. He has been teaching for over 30 years and practicing for 50 years. He is also an artist and painter. He’s been doing digital paintings on his computer for the last 10 years. You can view his work at his site for Robert Althouse Fine Arts at www.althouseart.com.