Tonglen

Being able to truly open to my own pain is one thing, but to open to other people’s pain is a whole new world for me.

It seems to me that the better I get at looking carefully at my own pain, the more I see the pain in others around me. Their pain penetrates me and I feel it with them. Their pain resonates with my own pain. Their pain becomes my pain.

How do I manage my own pain and the pain of others that comes into me? Probably the best thing to do at the moment is to go take a mindful walk. Breathe. Walk. Breathe. Walk.

Pema Chodron teaches about “tonglen” which is a practice of breathing in pain and breathing out relief/compassion. Hold other’s pain in the space of awareness as I hold my own pain in that space. “Oh, there is that pain. There is enough room for it. It’s ok.”

It doesn't have to be me. It doesn't have to be mine.

Nothing is certain.