Have you ever wanted to feel more connected to others, deepen your sense of compassion, and reduce your own stress? Tonglen meditation might be exactly what you’re looking for. It’s an ancient Tibetan Buddhist practice that turns our usual approach to dealing with pain on its head, helping us open our hearts to the suffering of others while transforming our own discomfort. If you would like to be selfish, you should do it in a very intelligent way. The stupid way to be selfish is … seeking happiness for ourselves alone. … the intelligent way to be selfish is to work for the welfare of others. —His Holiness the Dalai Lama What is Tonglen Meditation? Tonglen, which translates to “giving and taking” in Tibetan, is a meditation practice designed to cultivate compassion and empathy for others. In essence, Tonglen invites us to breathe in the suffering of others and breathe…
