Tibetan|NNP Buddhist|NNP Retreat|NNP Faded|NNP squares|NNS of|IN fabric|NN ,|, strung|NN together|RB in|IN repeating|VBG blue-white-red-green-yellow|JJ chains|NNS ,|, crisscross|NNS the|DT branches|NNS of|IN bare-limbed|JJ trees|NNS .|. 
The|DT gentle|JJ wind|NN makes|VBZ them|PRP flutter|NN .|. 
Orange-gold|NNP light|JJ filters|NNS into|IN the|DT grassy|JJ meadow|NN ,|, touching|VBG a|DT row|NN of|IN canvas|NN tents|NNS and|CC the|DT temple|NN house|NN beyond|IN .|. 
Tsechen|NNP Kunchab|NNP Ling|NNP :|: Temple|NNP of|IN All-Encompassing|JJ Great|NNP Compassion|NNP .|. 
This|DT is|VBZ the|DT seat|NN of|IN His|PRP$ Holiness|NNP the|DT Sakya|NNP Trizin|NNP in|IN the|DT United|NNP States|NNPS ,|, a|DT Tibetan|NNP Buddhist|NNP monastery|NN established|VBD nine|CD years|NNS ago|RB .|. 

I|PRP spent|VBD the|DT past|JJ weekend|NN there|RB .|. 
The|DT field|NN work|NN office|NN at|IN my|PRP$ college|NN arranges|VBZ this|DT retreat|NN every|DT semester|NN .|. 
Everyone|NN I|PRP 've|VBP talked|VBN to|TO who|WP has|VBZ previously|RB attended|VBN says|VBZ wonderful|JJ things|NNS about|IN it|PRP ;|: this|DT semester|NN ,|, one|CD of|IN my|PRP$ friends|NNS told|VBD me|PRP she|PRP was|VBD going|VBG :|: I|PRP should|MD join|VB her|PRP !|. 
I|PRP like|VBP learning|VBG new|JJ things|NNS ,|, so|IN I|PRP signed|VBD up|RB .|. 
A|DT good|JJ decision|NN :|: I|PRP did|VBD n't|RB return|VB all|DT chill|NN and|CC zen|NN ,|, as|IN one|CD friend|NN told|VBD me|PRP his|PRP$ roommate|NN had|VBD ,|, but|CC I|PRP certainly|RB gained|VBD a|DT few|JJ new|JJ ideas|NNS and|CC approaches|NNS to|TO mull|VB over|RB ,|, and|CC dipped|VBD my|PRP$ hand|NN into|IN a|DT previously|RB unfamiliar|JJ piece|NN of|IN the|DT world|NN .|. 

Medicine|NNP for|IN one|CD 's|POS mind|NN The|DT first|JJ evening|NN ,|, the|DT twenty-something|JJ students--most|JJ from|IN my|PRP$ college|NN ,|, four|CD from|IN another--gathered|JJ in|IN the|DT shrine|NN room|NN ,|, sitting|VBG cross-legged|JJ on|IN cushions|NNS as|IN we|PRP listened|VBD to|TO Khenpo|NNP Kalsang|NNP introduce|VB Tibetan|NNP Buddhist|NNP philosophy|NN .|. 
He|PRP began|VBD by|IN telling|VBG us|PRP ,|, "|'' Do|VBP not|RB take|VB any|DT of|IN what|WP I|PRP say|VBP on|IN faith|NN .|. 
Take|VB it|PRP through|IN analysis|NN ,|, if|IN there|EX is|VBZ some|DT benefit|NN in|IN it|PRP for|IN you|PRP .|. "|'' 
Religion|NNP ,|, he|PRP said|VBD ,|, is|VBZ like|IN a|DT drugstore|NN full|JJ of|IN medicine|NN .|. 
You|PRP do|VBP not|RB go|VB to|TO the|DT drugstore|NN and|CC buy|VB everything|NN in|IN it--you|JJ just|RB buy|VB what|WP would|MD be|VB beneficial|JJ to|TO you|PRP now|RB .|. 
You|PRP believe|VBP the|DT other|JJ medicine|NN may|MD have|VB just|RB as|IN much|JJ value|NN ,|, but|CC in|IN other|JJ situations|NNS ,|, not|RB this|DT one|CD .|. 

We|PRP discussed|VBD the|DT foundations|NNS :|: the|DT Three|CD Turnings|NNP of|IN the|DT Wheel|NNP of|IN Dharma|NNP ;|: the|DT four|CD noble|JJ truths|NNS ;|: karma|NN ;|: defilements|NNS ;|: the|DT six|CD perfections|NNS .|. 
When|WRB we|PRP talked|VBD about|IN the|DT giving|NN ,|, and|CC how|WRB one|PRP should|MD try|VB to|TO give|VB what|WP one|PRP could|MD to|TO other|JJ sentient|NN beings|NNS (|( in|IN the|DT form|NN of|IN material|NN items|NNS ,|, kind|NN words|NNS ,|, protection|NN ,|, and|CC so|RB on|IN )|) ,|, Khenpo|NNP Kalsang|NNP shared|VBD a|DT story|NN of|IN the|DT Buddha|NNP ,|, and|CC how|WRB the|DT Buddha|NNP had|VBD given|VBN his|PRP$ flesh|NN so|IN that|IN a|DT family|NN of|IN hungry|JJ tigers|NNS could|MD eat|VB .|. 
"|'' So|RB ,|, "|'' a|DT fellow|NN student|NN asked|VBD ,|, "|'' Giving|VBG one|CD 's|POS life|NN for|IN another|DT being|VBG is|VBZ the|DT ultimate|JJ gift|NN ?|. "|'' 

Khenpo|NNP Kalsang|NNP ,|, he|PRP smiled|VBD ,|, and|CC shook|VBD his|PRP$ head|NN .|. 
"|'' Only|RB if|IN you|PRP feel|VBP no|DT regret|NN ,|, "|'' he|PRP said|VBD .|. 
"|'' If|IN you|PRP feel|VBP regret|NN ,|, it|PRP destroys|VBZ the|DT merit|NN .|. "|'' 
Until|IN then|RB ,|, preserve|VB your|PRP$ own|JJ life|NN ,|, and|CC do|VBP not|RB give|VB away|RB anything|NN that|WDT would|MD cause|VB you|PRP regret|VBP .|. 
This|DT struck|VBD a|DT chord|NN .|. 
Self-preservation|NNP above|IN all|DT else|RB ,|, unless|IN the|DT right|JJ situation|NN arises|VBZ .|. 

Knowing|VBG and|CC understanding|VBG Later|RB ,|, I|PRP talked|VBD to|TO the|DT resident|NN nun|NN ,|, Ani|NNP Kunga|NNP ,|, about|IN psychology|NN and|CC cognitive|JJ science|NN .|. 
She|PRP had|VBD studied|VBN psychology|NN for|IN a|DT while|NN in|IN grad|NN school|NN ,|, but|CC now|RB holds|VBZ the|DT view|NN that|IN psychologists|NNS are|VBP going|VBG about|IN understanding|VBG the|DT mind|NN and|CC understanding|VBG the|DT knower|NN and|CC what|WP knowing|VBG is|VBZ the|DT wrong|JJ way|NN .|. 
"|'' Psychologists|NNS ,|, "|'' she|PRP said|VBD ,|, "|'' study|NN the|DT brain|NN and|CC the|DT self|NN externally|RB .|. 
Ever|RB since|IN the|DT 1920s|NN ,|, their|PRP$ science|NN has|VBZ been|VBN about|IN observation|NN of|IN behavior|NN ,|, questionnaires|NNS ,|, recordings|NNS of|IN electrical|JJ brain|NN activity|NN .|. 
But|CC the|DT mind|NN can|MD only|RB be|VB known|VBN by|IN you|PRP ,|, the|DT person|NN whose|WP$ mind|NN it|PRP is|VBZ .|. "|'' 
She|PRP said|VBD philosophy|NN and|CC epistemology|NN were|VBD doing|VBG it|PRP right|NN :|: looking|VBG at|IN experiences|NNS from|IN the|DT inside|JJ .|. 

A|DT big|JJ overlap|VB exists|VBZ between|IN Tibetan|NNP Buddhism|NNP ,|, psychology|NN and|CC cognitive|JJ science|NN .|. 
All|DT three|CD examine|VB the|DT distinction|NN between|IN the|DT self|NN and|CC others|NNS ,|, between|IN the|DT observer|NN and|CC the|DT observed|VBD ,|, between|IN knowing|VBG and|CC the|DT knower|NN .|. 
I|PRP agree|VBP with|IN Ani|NNP Kunga|NNP to|TO some|DT extent--only|JJ so|IN much|JJ can|MD be|VB known|VBN about|IN the|DT mind|NN from|IN external|JJ observation|NN .|. 
But|CC this|DT does|VBZ n't|RB mean|VB that|IN there|EX is|VBZ n't|RB merit|VB to|TO such|JJ studies|NNS ,|, nor|CC that|DT nothing|NN of|IN use|NN can|MD be|VB learned|VBN in|IN that|DT way|NN .|. 

Tibetan|NNP Buddhist|NNP philosophy|NN also|RB approaches|VBZ the|DT mind|NN and|CC the|DT self|NN from|IN the|DT inside|JJ .|. 
During|IN a|DT second|JJ philsophy|NN session|NN ,|, Khenpo|NNP Kalsang|NNP translated|VBN a|DT sutra|NN about|IN a|DT king|NN who|WP received|VBD advice|NN from|IN the|DT Buddha|NNP .|. 
This|DT sutra|NN delved|VBN into|IN some|DT questions|NNS about|IN the|DT nature|NN of|IN the|DT self|NN ,|, whether|IN the|DT self|NN is|VBZ a|DT delusion|NN ,|, and|CC how|WRB the|DT clinging|VBG of|IN self|NN is|VBZ a|DT defilement|NN .|. 
I|PRP intend|VBP to|TO discuss|VB it|PRP in|IN more|JJR depth|NN later|RB ,|, so|RB stay|VB tuned|VBN .|. 

Compassion|NNP training|NN and|CC prayer|NN flags|NNS 
In|IN the|DT afternoon|NN ,|, a|DT group|NN of|IN us|PRP gathered|VBD outside|IN for|IN a|DT meditation|NN session|NN with|IN Ani|NNP Kunga|NNP .|. 
Sunshine|NNP melted|JJ lazily|RB through|IN the|DT tree|NN branches|NNS above|IN ,|, a|DT breeze|NN animating|VBG the|DT branches|NNS '|POS shadows|NNS so|IN they|PRP danced|JJ between|IN our|PRP$ cushions|NNS .|. 
Compassion|NNP and|CC anger|NN were|VBD the|DT session|NN 's|POS topics|NNS .|. 
The|DT key|JJ message|NN :|: 

"|'' If|IN there|EX 's|VBZ something|NN you|PRP can|MD do|VB ,|, why|WRB are|VBP you|PRP unhappy|JJ ?|. 
Just|RB do|VBP it|PRP .|. 
If|IN there|EX 's|VBZ nothing|NN you|PRP can|MD do|VB ,|, why|WRB are|VBP you|PRP unhappy|JJ ?|. "|'' 

Ani|NNP Kunga|NNP explained|VBD several|JJ off-session|JJ and|CC one|CD on-session|JJ technique|NN for|IN dealing|VBG with|IN negative|JJ emotions|NNS (|( anger|NN ,|, hate|VB ,|, irritation|NN ,|, stress|NN ,|, jealousy|NN ,|, and|CC so|RB on|IN )|) .|. 
All|DT the|DT methods|NNS built|VBN off|IN the|DT idea|NN that|IN you|PRP are|VBP in|IN control|NN :|: anger|NN is|VBZ an|DT emotion|NN ,|, and|CC you|PRP can|MD change|VB your|PRP$ emotions|NNS .|. 
Stay|NNP tuned|VBN for|IN a|DT more|RBR in-depth|JJ post|NN on|IN the|DT topic|NN .|. 

Another|DT of|IN the|DT day|NN 's|POS activities|NNS was|VBD making|VBG prayer|NN flags|NNS .|. 
As|IN Ani|NNP Kunga|NNP explained|VBD ,|, "|'' Prayers|NNP ,|, wishes|VBZ ,|, hopes|VBZ ,|, aspirations--someone|JJ ,|, many|JJ people|NNS ,|, may|MD share|VB those|DT with|IN you|PRP .|. 
Hanging|NNP the|DT prayer|NN flag|NN shares|VBZ your|PRP$ prayer|NN with|IN everyone|NN else|RB in|IN the|DT world|NN .|. 
This|DT may|MD do|VB no|DT good|NN at|IN all|DT ,|, but|CC it|PRP may--if|JJ everyone|NN hopes|VBZ and|CC wishes|VBZ and|CC dreams|VBZ and|CC aspires|VBZ ,|, perhaps|RB it|PRP will|MD do|VB good|RB .|. 
It|PRP may|MD not|RB .|. 
But|CC if|IN no|DT one|CD shares|VBZ their|PRP$ prayers|NNS ,|, it|PRP will|MD certainly|RB do|VB no|DT good|NN .|. 
So|RB on|IN the|DT offchance|NN that|IN it|PRP will|MD help|VB ,|, why|WRB not|RB ?|. "|'' 

Never|RB done|VBN This|DT weekend|NN reminded|VBD me|PRP that|IN I|PRP 'm|VBP not|RB done|VBN learning|VBG .|. 
If|IN I|PRP stay|VBP still|RB long|RB enough|RB ,|, if|IN I|PRP 've|VBP achieved|VBN a|DT relatively|RB constant|JJ level|NN of|IN happiness|NN and|CC satisfaction|NN ,|, I|PRP forget|VBP that|IN I|PRP can|MD and|CC should|MD continue|VB to|TO seek|VB out|IN new|JJ ideas|NNS and|CC approaches|NNS ,|, and|CC incorporate|VB beneficial|JJ ones|NNS into|IN my|PRP$ life|NN .|. 
A|DT person|NN is|VBZ never|RB "|'' done|VBN ,|, "|'' and|CC so|RB ,|, I|PRP 'll|MD continue|VB to|TO observe|VB and|CC discuss|VB and|CC study|VB ,|, trying|VBG to|TO pick|VB the|DT directions|NNS in|IN which|WDT I|PRP 'll|MD change|VB ,|, and|CC trying|VBG to|TO make|VB tomorrow|NN better|JJR than|IN today|NN .|. 

Ever|RB onward|NN and|CC ever|RB upward|RB .|. 

