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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> ([[wyl.]] ''gtong len'' - Tib.[[lojong]]) brought to Tibet by Lord [[Atisha]], as such it belongs to the teachings on  [[relative bodhichitta]] and it appears in many Indian and Tibetan sources like  the [[Bodhicharyavatara]], the [[Kunzang Lama’i Shyalung]], the [[Seven Points of Mind Training]], the [[Eight Verses of Training the Mind]], the [[Thirty-Seven Practices of the Bodhisattvas]], the [[Lamrim]] and in [[Longchenpa]]’s ‘Mind in Comfort and Ease’.  There are also special instructions which have been passed down in the oral tradition.
'''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]], as such it belongs to the teachings on  [[relative bodhichitta]] and it appears in many Indian and Tibetan sources like  the [[Bodhicharyavatara]], the [[Kunzang Lama’i Shyalung]], the [[Seven Points of Mind Training]], the [[Eight Verses of Training the Mind]], the [[Thirty-Seven Practices of the Bodhisattvas]], the [[Lam Rim]] and in [[Longchenpa]]’s ‘Mind in Comfort and Ease’.  There are also special instructions which have been passed down in the oral tradition.


In this practice one gives one's happiness to others while receiving or absorbing other's suffering.
In this practice one gives one's happiness to others while receiving or absorbing other's suffering.

Revision as of 10:47, 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, as such it belongs to the teachings on relative bodhichitta and it appears in many Indian and Tibetan sources like the Bodhicharyavatara, the Kunzang Lama’i Shyalung, the Seven Points of Mind Training, the Eight Verses of Training the Mind, the Thirty-Seven Practices of the Bodhisattvas, the Lam Rim and in Longchenpa’s ‘Mind in Comfort and Ease’. There are also special instructions which have been passed down in the oral tradition.

In this practice one gives one's happiness to others while receiving or absorbing other's suffering.

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

  1. ↑ According to Alak Zenkar Rinpoche it is more accurate to call it Dé Duk Tonglen, meaning ‘Giving Happiness and Receiving Suffering’
  2. ↑ His Holiness the XIVth Dalai Lama: "Four Essential Buddhist Commentaries", page 97. Library of Tibetan Works & Archives, Dharamsala, India, 2005.
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