Tonglen: The Path of Transformation

by Pema Chödrön (Artist)

Il tonglen è una pratica meditativa per coltivare l'amore e la compassione. È un processo graduale per aprire il cuore abbracciando, e non rifiutando, i lati meno desiderati e dolorosi dell' così facendo si supera la paura e si sviluppa una grande empatia verso gli altri, in sintonia sia con la gioia che la sofferenza della vita. Questo libro è una guida pratica al Tonglen, per capirlo e praticarlo più in profondità; attraverso una serie di domande e risposte, dialoghi e interscambi, è utile per chi pratica il tonglen a tutti i livelli e per chi vuole avvicinarsi a questa disciplina fruttuosa per l'equilibrio e il benessere interiore.

Genres: Buddhism, Spirituality, Nonfiction, Philosophy, Religion

134 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Ani Pema Chödrön (Deirdre Blomfield-Brown) is an American Buddhist nun in the Tibetan tradition, closely associated with the Kagyu school and the Shambhala lineage.

She attended Miss Porter's School in Connecticut and graduated from the University of California at Berkeley. She taught as an elementary school teacher for many years in both New Mexico and California. Pema has two children and three grandchildren.

While in her mid-thirties, she traveled to the French Alps and encountered Lama Chime Rinpoche, with whom she studied for several years. She became a novice nun in 1974 while studying with Lama Chime in London. His Holiness the Sixteenth Karmapa came to England at that time, and Ani Pema received her ordination from him.

Ani Pema first met her root guru, Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, in 1972. Lama Chime encouraged her to work with Trungpa, and it was with him that she ultimately made her most profound connection, studying with him from 1974 until his death in 1987. At the request of the Sixteenth Karmapa, she received the full bikshuni ordination in the Chinese lineage of Buddhism in 1981 in Hong Kong.

Ani Pema served as the director of the Karma Dzong, in Boulder, CO, until moving in 1984 to rural Cape Breton, Nova Scotia to be the director of Gampo Abbey. Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche gave her explicit instructions on establishing this monastery for western monks and nuns.

Ani Pema currently teaches in the United States and Canada and plans for an increased amount of time in solitary retreat under the guidance of Venerable Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche.

Reviews

[Valerielynnbassett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tonglen is a meditation practice of "exchanging oneself for the other" in which you use the breath to expand from small, self-centered self to a more spacious, generous self: on the inbreath you imagine taking in someone else's suffering and on the outbreath you visualize sending relief from suffering to that person. Pema Chodron, as always, is clear and helpful and wry in writing about this practice.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent and thorough introduction to an exceptionally important meditation practice.

[Daniele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quest'opera tratta un'antica pratica tibetana, il tonglen appunto, che insegna ad accogliere paura e dolore per poi liberare sollievo e gratitudine. È una tecnica interessante, consigliata a chi già pratica meditazione.

Nota all'edizione italiana: il sottotitolo è "come risolvere le proprie nevrosi con il buddhismo e la meditazione del tonglen". Ma come si fa a scrivere queste cose con tanta superficialità? È notevole rilevare che il titolo inglese è semplicemente "Tonglen: the path of transformation"!

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tonglen is a practice we can all learn with, heal with.
I highly recommend this text to enrich your understanding.

I have specialty license plates: TONGLEN

[That is how much I believe in the possibility and need for more tonglen in our world.]

compassionate energy shared through intentional breathing (a brief description of tonglen practice).

It centers me, calms me, helps me focus on and perceive the interconnectedness of 'everything' and 'everyone' in this world.

[Bohdan Pechenyak · Rating 5 out of 5]

A concise statement of the tonglen practice of “giving and taking”, or “equalizing/exchanging the self and the other”. One of the central practices of Mahayana, it is meant to arouse bodhicitta (awakened heart-mind) and foster wisdom and compassion. A systematic instruction on how to practice tonglen in various settings, what pitfalls to avoid and what to expect. A wonderfully concise and pointed pocketbook that will accompany my lifetime practice of this powerful technique.

[Kimia Dargahi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pemaaaaaa💕

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

A clear and powerful explanation of how to turn suffering into compassion.