Question asked by Thorim
Is there a pratice to deal with social anxiety/ "bad" inhibition? Yet it is really hard for me to enjoy party and people with this anxiety that arise when I'm in public, it also make it difficult to help people with compassion in public, for example if a person fall and that there is a lot of people around, I have a really big "freeze" because of the social anxiety. Thanks
Dear Thorim,
Yes, there are practices that help with this situation. In fact all practices within Buddhism effect a beneficial change in one’s mind. The best practice for this would be the Guru Yoga of Lama Tsongkhapa, known as the Gaden Lhagyama in Tibetan. I myself have experienced the tremendous benefits of this practice. If engaged in with faith and conviction then this practice can really transform your life. In fact the Guru Yoga of Lama Tsongkhapa is one of the central practices within the Gelug tradition, from the beginner to the most advanced practitioner. It is a practice which includes both sutric aspects and tantric aspects that can be practiced without initiation, so is very beneficial in one’s life.
Lama Tsongkhapa’s practice has too many benefits to list them all here, but in essence as the emanation of Manjushri, Chenresig and Vajrapani, his practice bestows wisdom, compassion and spiritual power. This practice leads to a more calmer and stable mind, which counters any anxiety you are facing.
You can find the Guru Yoga of Lama Tsongkhapa here: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/tsongkhapa-prayers.html#1. There are a lot of other prayers to Lama Tsongkhapa available on this page, if you have the time you can read through them and recite those that you like. I really like ‘A Song Rapidly Invoking Blessings’. I have recited this regularly ever since learning about Lama Tsongkhapa.
There is a video commentary by His Eminence 25th Tsem Rinpoche for this practice here: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/me/tsongkapas-daily-practice-video-commentary.html
There is a whole section of this blog dedicated to Lama Tsongkhapa with many and varied articles on the life, practice and significance of the practice. Click here to read: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/category/tsongkhapa.
If you would like to know more about Lama Tsongkhapa, there is a book entitled ‘Tsongkhapa – a powerful guide to a spiritual practice’ and a box set to help start your practice available here: http://www.vajrasecrets.com/tsongkhapa-a-simple-guide-to-a-powerful-practice and here http://www.vajrasecrets.com/tsongkhapa-boxset-english.
I hope this helps. Thank you.