Wash Away Your Tears (Tonglen To Exchange Compassion)

The experience of practicing Tonglen ("giving, sending"/"taking, receiving") is an opportunity to notice how much we tend to tense up the mind and body by blocking up bad energies and grasping good ones. Pema Chödrön (2012) says that “when we are willing to stay even for a moment with uncomfortable energy, we gradually learn not to fear it". Tonglen gives you the courage to trust that there is enough space inside yourself to handle inner conflicts and that this trustful space is nowhere else but inside you.

It's liberating to allow ourselves to be open, to feel whatever arises without beating ourselves up for feeling down but taking the opportunity to use this same energy to lift ourselves up and share this with others who also need the courage to be open to challenging times and difficulties.

Tonglen is an ancient Tibetan meditation practice that aims to cultivate a kind and loving heart, a beautiful practice to exchange compassion. I hope it is of benefit to your practice.

Reviews

A difficult technique but very well guided. Thank you.