Speaker: Chris Parmentier. Chris shares how her experience with depression provided the opportunity to practice patience, mindfulness and loving-kindness for herself and others, while also helping to let go of judgmental concepts such as success and failure. The focus on and protection of a “real” self causes pain and suffering. It takes practice and time to let go of this habitual mindset and way of being. Letting go also involves others; Chris recalls being reminded that without others there can be no enlightenment. We can learn to be grateful for everyone and everything in our lives, even those we may dislike and reject. Chris specifically recommended the Thangtong Gyalpo Refuge Prayer as a practice for overcoming pain and discovering intrinsic joy. This also results in having less resentment toward the world and ourselves. By naturally being present, we can face even old age, sickness and death with equanimity.

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