Wisdom and Compassion

Tonglen is part of the ancient compassion practice tool box of Seven Points of Mind Training. In this meditation, you're guided in Tonglen for yourself, at every stage of being, from pre-birth, though life, death and afterlife. Follow the instructions as you hear them and learn in real time where you are self-compassionate and where it does not yet flow freely. The best results will come from following along without talking to yourself as we go. Just listen and do—it's very simple. And then notice the moment-by-moment experience. There are several guided Tonglen meditations on the Wisdom and Compassion podcast list. We'll post more this year. 

We can do Tonglen for someone who is dying if we are with them, or not. We can do Tonglen for people who have died at another time. whether we were there or not. Tonglen may be done for people we know, and complete strangers. Of course it can be done for animals, as well. 

These are indeed difficult times and not the first and not the last. As practitioners, we have to find balance in chaos, or at least enough steadiness and equanimity to move forward to awakening and to ease the suffering of the world. In the midst of everything--is everything. In the midst of the worst times of darkness are light and wholeness. We have the tools to do this together. 

The writer, Annie Dillard, in her book, The Writing Life, said “The life of sensation is the life of greed; it requires more and more. The life of the spirit requires less and less; time is ample and its passage sweet.” In this episode we explore the life of less and less, which as it turns out, is the life of more and more in the most delightful ways. 

As practitioners, what is inclusivity? What is integration? How are these principles and practices entwined with truth and dharma?

Tonglen is a profound yet accessible practice in Tibetan Buddhism—an act of taking in suffering and sending out goodness. In a traditional tonglen session which is done in stages, we begin with ourselves, and progress to a loved one, a neutral person, a difficult person, and finally, all beings. But many people have difficulty in the stage of tonglen for self, just as they do with self-compassion in everyday life. 

In this episode, we break down the architecture of the segment of tonglen for self as we do the traditional sequence, lingering in detail in the stage of holding space for our own struggles without resistance or avoidance (among other things). Why do this? Because meeting our own suffering with openness and steady attention, rather than pushing it away allows us to learn more about suffering, our basic goodness, and compassion. Instead of getting stuck in cycles of self-judgment or repression, we take a direct and honest approach of being intimately present with this moment’s truth about ourselves and everything else. 

This isn’t about self-indulgence or wallowing. It isn’t about spiritual bypassing. It’s about the radical honesty of saying: Yes, this is here. And yes, I can hold it with kindness. And so much more. 

Lama Lekshe unpacks us in a guided meditation and answers a couple of questions. Experience for yourself the power of tonglen to transform the way you meet your own mind with intimacy, integration, and healing through non-conceptual presence and awareness.

This episode was originally published on April 28, 2020.

Everything you need to awaken is right here, right now. It's your life. Will you live it?

Dekeling, in Tibetan, means 'a place of happiness'.  Our offering is to support for your dharma practice & your life in an accessible, inclusive way. All are welcome. All are very welcome. https://www.dekeling.online/ 

The music for this episode is “Starlight” - by Podington Bear of Portland, Oregon - Thanks to composer Chad Crouch. Support Chad here. 

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