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'''Tonglen'''<ref>According to Alak Zenkar Rinpoche it is more accurate to call it Dé Duk Tonglen, meaning ‘Giving Happiness and Receiving Suffering’</ref> ( | '''Tonglen'''<ref>According to [[Alak Zenkar Rinpoche]] it is more accurate to call it Dé Duk Tonglen, meaning ‘Giving Happiness and Receiving Suffering’</ref> ([[wyl.]] ''gtong len'') - The practice of "giving" (tong) and "receiving" (len), it is part of the instruction on 'mind training' (Tib.lojong) brought to Tibet by Lord Atisha. In this practice one gives one's happiness and its causes to others while receiving or absorbing other's suffering; it is referred to in the seventh of the [[Eight Verses of Training the Mind]]. | ||
[[Geshe Chekawa]] says: | [[Geshe Chekawa]] says: | ||
Revision as of 08:43, 10 June 2007
Tonglen[1] (wyl. gtong len) - The practice of "giving" (tong) and "receiving" (len), it is part of the instruction on 'mind training' (Tib.lojong) brought to Tibet by Lord Atisha. In this practice one gives one's happiness and its causes to others while receiving or absorbing other's suffering; it is referred to in the seventh of the Eight Verses of Training the Mind.
Geshe Chekawa says:
- Giving and receiving should be practiced alternately. This alternation should be placed on the medium of the breath.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama says [2]:
- To be able actually to transfer one's happiness to others and directly take their sufferings upon oneself is something only possible on a very, very few occasions; it occurs when oneself and another individual have a very special type of relationship based on karmic affinity stemming, perhaps from a previous life. Then why does one cultivate this attitude? Because it leads to attaining great strength of character, courage and enthusiasm; and improves one's own practice of developing bodhichitta
How do I do the practice?
- I imagine that person in front of me, and then, as I breathe in, along with my in-breath I take into my body all of their suffering, whatever it might be.
- Then I breathe out, and with the out-breath give the person who is suffering all kinds of goodness, health, peace, and happiness, and especially my merit.
- Then, at the end, I dedicate.
Notes
- ↑ According to Alak Zenkar Rinpoche it is more accurate to call it Dé Duk Tonglen, meaning ‘Giving Happiness and Receiving Suffering’
- ↑ His Holiness the XIVth Dalai Lama: "Four Essential Buddhist Commentaries", page 97. Library of Tibetan Works & Archives, Dharamsala, India, 2005.