As we turn inwards,
Many hidden aspects of our consciousness begin rising to the surface,
Often uninvited visitors,
Perceived deficiencies or remnants of what we've been trying not to feel in our life.
Rather than banishing or exiling these aspects,
We invite all issues to be on the path of awareness.
This diminishes their diabolical power to isolate or overwhelm us.
Invite them in.
This is a practice called Tong Len,
Will help us cultivate equanimity,
A Tibetan practice of giving and taking,
Turning poison into medicine.
Although you may feel besieged by some emotion,
When you turn to this method,
The first step is to consciously relax all ideas of right or wrong about yourself.
Everything is as is without added judgment.
The second step is to establish your breath as the main vehicle for Tong Len,
Giving and taking.
We'll allow the in-breath to represent taking in that which we usually turn away from.
Some pain,
Some fear,
Some struggle.
Visualize each inhale as bringing in that which is heavy,
Dark,
Throbbing,
Constricting,
Murky,
Sharp.
Allow the exhales to symbolize light,
Bright,
Spacious.
As you breathe in the heavy and the dark,
It's the exhale that you envision your body as an ever-widening,
Clear container of freshness.
The vast openness of the exhale represents the antidote to whatever you're bringing in on the in-breath.
If the in-breath,
For example,
Is something that is rough,
The out-breath represents softness.
You may be visualizing blackness and heat on the inhale,
So turquoise and coolness on the exhale.
Just a few more breaths establishing the visualization here.
And now with the third step,
Invite in a personal issue and allow the in-breath to portray that feeling tone,
A specific difficulty you're currently having.
Maybe you're working with feeling ashamed or unworthy,
Unlovable,
Any disturbing emotion or self-concept.
And each inhale,
Invite more of this issue to be welcomed in,
In all of its flavors.
Allow yourself to see it as it is.
With each exhale,
Continue to see yourself growing internally more open,
More bright like a clear sky over the ocean,
Space for the issue to be held within.
This is Tonglen,
Giving and taking.
The inhale taking in,
Receiving the constriction without hesitation,
Like a loving parent willing to hold the full spectrum of a child's turmoil without judgment.
Following is the exhale,
Giving unrestricted space,
A measurably kind attention.
We're not trying to fix the issue nor push it away,
Just creating a holding environment for this issue to be breathed in and for the out-breath to allow ever more space for it to move through us.
As if you knew your life was going to turn out okay.
Now the fourth step morphs this seemingly isolated feeling into a vehicle for bonding with others.
So begin to breathe in your issue,
Not just for yourself,
But for anyone else who might feel just like you do right now.
So the inward message is,
If I'm feeling this,
I know others feel this too.
Now it's not just your problem,
It's a feature of the human predicament,
But the wisdom of this Tonglen touch you.
The out-breath swells the inner body even wider,
Accommodating all the imagined pain of our fellow brothers and sisters sharing this human difficulty.
The inward message of the out-breath is,
May we all be willing to meet this pain with fresh space.
Now the last step is letting go of Tonglen,
Resting again,
The simple mindful attention in your belly,
Feeling the support of the ground underneath you,
The angels around us all,
Willing to meet this moment just as it is.
