Pema Chodron "Tong lin Meditation"

[aMUSEher]

This practice really works.

[jsokayama]

I just did this meditation while eyes closed and doing what she said. Right after she rang the closing gong I experienced a sudden physical and emotional "rush" for lack of a better word. I was overcome with something and all I could do was let out a sort of moan or sob. Can anyone explain?

[sooneaty]

@jsokayama

Yes I experienced this too. I felt very tearful but also peaceful.... 

[Meemaah100]

very grateful for her incisive wisdom- and for the compassion she expresses so well

[ptheodor]

@LakeShaman

FYI Tonglen (Tibetan; Wylie: gtong len, or tonglin is Tibetan for 'giving and taking' (or sending and receiving), and refers to a meditation practice found in Tibetan Buddhism.

It is a translation from a tibetan term. Perhaps best not to become to hung up on the spelling. Thank you. Could be spelled Ptawngllynn if you would like :)

[ptheodor]

@LakeShaman

FYI Tonglen (Tibetan: གཏོང་ལེན་; Wylie: gtong len, or tonglin[1]) is Tibetan for 'giving and taking' (or sending and receiving), and refers to a meditation practice found in Tibetan Buddhism.[2]

It is a translation. Perhaps best not to become to hung up on the spelling. Thank you.

[SurrenderEverything]

Lesson 268: Let all things be exactly as they are.

Let me not be Your critic, Lord, today, and judge against You. Let me not attempt to interfere with Your creation, and distort it into sickly forms. Let me be willing to withdraw my wishes from its unity, and thus to let it be as You created it. For thus will I be able, too, to recognize my Self as You created me. In Love was I created, and in Love will I remain forever. What can frighten me, when I let all things be exactly as they are?

[MICKEGSM]

@SurrenderEverything

Like it. Ressembles a thuohgt that struck me some time ago. The only way to change possitively is to realize that you are perfect. Perfect with all your stupidity, pain and missconceptions. Then will you be able to see your self onestly and surrender to reality. Then change comes from it self without the twisted concepts of whats good and whats bad, whats right and whats wrong... Or am I wrong once again?

[jigme911]

yup very true

nice comment, may all beings achieve happiness and free from suffering.

[blackcrow6667]

I wonder how useful "the secret" would be to African children starving to death? Someone should tell them all they need to do is want food. \o/

[cobrajitsu]

True. Technically, that's all they need to do. But keep in mind that thought does not manifest instantly and only subconscious though manifests. A material object comes to you through work, that is true. But you must want it. An immaterial abject comes to you trough subconscious thought and it's not wanting, it's beveling it. You can move mountains. The lost teachings of Christ point to this universal truth and they where kept secret for the Church and Kings to have power over the common man.

[cobrajitsu]

We develop our inner sanctity through the Practice of Warriorship meeting fear and transcending aggression

Body and soul must then be purified. We meditate and manifest, but we must train the body as well.

Therefore, I don't think you can practice Shambala teachings without the Martial Arts. And by that I don't mean Katas and punching air. I mean sparring and real fighter training.

Meeting your fears head on through the real Kumite!

[MichaelCarlucci]

You raise an interesting and valid point. However, you would agree there are opportunities to face one's fears without ever facing an opponent. We all face death sometime or another and what a great opponent she is!

Thoughts?

[cobrajitsu]

True. Fear is something you experience at the personal level. The simple act of jugging presents a challenge to the mind that must be overcome at each mile at each step. You may transcend aggression at a business meeting or when being summoned by your boss when you did something wrong. But the true nature of the male species is to hunt and be tested in battle. So, today man is lost. I believe that sparring centers your body and mind in a way not many activities can.

[cobrajitsu]

When I read Shambala, it astonish me on how much it reminds me of Budo and the way of the Samurai. It's almost like this is where Bushido comes from. Bushido literally means "Way of the Warrior". "Only a warrior chooses pacifism; others are condemned to it."

[MichaelCarlucci]

I'm sure you know that one of the reasons Buddhism spread in Japan was because monks would wander around begging for alms and finally the Samurai had enough of them "encroaching" on their territory and starting threatening them. They went so far as lop a couple of heads off. Rather than inspiring fear it had no effect at all. The Samurai recognized the fearlessness of these begging monks.

Or so I have been told.

[cbfiddler1975]

im scared if i breath in all the anguish inany given moment onthe planet i may not be able to ake it allin-however the fear is only matched with the hope it may do some good

[MichaelCarlucci]

Pema says that is a common resistance people have to the practice. One of the ways I personally do Tong Lin is to think of my own personal pain or discomfort (whatever it is) as a point of connection to any other being that is or ever has experienced it. 

For example, even if I am only a little uncomfortable by being bored, I can breathe in boredom knowing that many, many other beings also experience boredom, and breathe out the wish to alleviate whatever suffering it causes.

[jmorrell22]

Tong Len

[blackcrow6667]

This is serious wishful thinking. How about, getting up and doing something instead.

[cobrajitsu]

They are. Thoughts manifest into reality.

Ave Sanat Kumara, you are the highest avatar of the Planetary Logos of Earth. Master of the "Brotherhood of Light".

[blackcrow6667]

Thoughts only manifest into reality, when acted on.

I'm sorry you don't live in this world. :P

[ananddilvar]

I agree. We do need to go beyond visualizing, wishful thinking, metaphysics and esoterism. Lets meditate for a while and then do something.

[celiacc11]

That is very important to 'do' something, take some meaningful action. Thank you.

[grannykempock]

@blackcrow6667 how about doing both.

[blackcrow6667]

@grannykempock Sitting around feeling sorry for the world is only feeding your depression if not a symptom of depression itself. It's much easier to accept the world the way it is over dwelling on the negative.

[grannykempock]

@blackcrow6667 I sit and walk in meditation feeling compassion and love for the world wishing for more peace and joy in the world instead of hate and pain. I practice living in a positive state and using that energy to help others. The more I pracitice these lessons the less depressed I feel. peace~love~joy :)

[blackcrow6667]

@grannykempock You sound like a kind person and we certainly need more of you but, to my point, there is no secret in life to get you all you want as many would have you believe (ie. cobrajitsu in the conversation above).

Lasting change starts with small growth and it does happen but significant change may take generations. That aside, nature will always be about as orderly as it is chaotic, as peaceful as it is disruptive, no matter how much we try to change this.

[alllovecat]

BODISATVA

[solusito]

Pema Chödrön is!

a shower of stars.