HEALING TONGLEN MEDITATION

 

Tonglen is an esoteric Buddhist practice for developing compassion.  It can be practiced for yourself or for others.  Tonglen is purifying and healing.  You can think of it as a way to clear old karma, for yourself, for others, and between you and others.  Compassion, healing, and forgiveness are no different.

 

To do Tonglen for the body, first, put your mind at your heart center and connect with your personal deity. Your heart center is a very bright place, as though many suns were shinning there.  As you sit within your own heart, imagine that you are patiently listening to your body.  When it comes to your attention that there is an uncomfortable, tense, or painful area within your body, begin the practice described below. 

 

Imagine that the tension, weakness, or strength is a dark cloud.  As you inhale, pull the dark cloud into your heart.  When the darkness enters your heart it enters a very bright place.  The light of your heart instantly purifies the dark cloud, transforming it into light.  As you exhale, use the power of your mind to send a beam of light from your heart center back to your body.  The light is very bright and cool and refreshing.  When the light enters your body it causes your muscles to relax more and more and it feels good.  (Repeat as needed.)

 

Work with each problem area in a relaxed way, going only as fast as the areas naturally present themselves to you.  As you inhale the dark clouds and exhale light to your body, your body is gradually cleansed of darkness and filled with more and more light. 

 

End by breathing the energy of your whole body into your heart center, letting the light there purify the energy and turn it into pure, bright light, and breathe the light out to your whole body, along with a wonderful sense of calm, clarity, and joy.