What is Tonglen Meditation?

The Tibetan Buddhist tradition is the origin of Tonglen Meditation. The Tibetan word for 'tonglen’ means "giving" and "receiving", which means that this meditation involves both input and out put. What you're receiving is everyone's suffering right now. What you give to all people is your total compassion and energy support.

Tonglen meditation is at its heart a form of compassion that we can feel for all people, regardless of their background.

It helps develop our ability to assist on a subliminal and energetic level using that powerful electromagnet generator we call heart and bring more peace into collective consciousness.

How-to Practice Tonglen meditation When you practice this mediation, you should do it only for as long that you feel capable. The world is filled with suffering, and attempting to feel it in order to transform it can sometimes be overwhelming. Here's a guide to tonglen-style meditation:

1. Find a quiet area where you can be alone. Sit comfortably and close your eyelids. Become still. Begin by taking a few deep, slow breaths.

2. Awakening your heart-mind link. Feel your consciousness and energy field expand as you enjoy greater clarity. To help with this expansion, you can use a loving thought.

3. It's time for you to receive. Breathe as much suffering from the world through all your pores. Feel the heat of this energy.

4. Now it's your turn to give. Inhale positive, pure energy from every part of your body. Feel the coolness of this positive energy.

5. Synchronize your in and out breathing with the parts of this mediation that involve giving and accepting.

Do for one or do it all

It can be hard to breathe through all the darkness within the collective. If it's too much for you, you can instead focus on a particular person. Find someone to whom you are truly attached and for whom you wish less suffering.

You can also concentrate on your own pain. You can breathe in anything that is bothering you or causing discomfort. Transmute it by using the internal alchemical processes you can perform through compassion consciousness.

This is an active meditation which will enable you to take a direct part in improving the current situation of humanity.

I like this meditation especially because there's a mix of light and dark work. It ensures that we have a balanced focus and attention. It is important to examine both if we wish to progress individually and collectively.

To the benefit of you, your loved one, and all of humanity, practice tonglen. You can even meditate on those who are unpleasant or make you feel bad when you remember them. Transform the suffering of others by listening and feeling their cries.