The Buddhist practice of tonglen involves breathing in the suffering of another, and breathing out healing and relief of that suffering. Rather than either denying or taking on the suffering of those around us, tonglen involves both taking in and then releasing the pain we recognize, offering compassion and visualizing healing.
What spiritual practice helps you address the suffering that you see around you?
“The Church says: the body is a sin.
Science says: the body is a machine.
Advertising says: The body is a business.
The Body says: I am a fiesta.”
― Eduardo Galeano
How do you celebrate your body?
Perhaps the greatest grief of our time is the specter of global disruption due to climate change. Sometimes, in the face of such a huge, seemingly insurmountable problem, all you can do is pray. Sometimes, how you pray is through your actions.
What is your active prayer for this planet?
“When it’s over, I want to say: all my life
I was a bride married to amazement.”
—Mary Oliver
What would you like to be able to say about your life as it nears the end?
Many religious traditions light candles in prayer—memorializing the dead, asking for healing, expressing gratitude for something special. Light reaches out, expressing our conviction that we touch, and are touched by, far more that our hands can hold.
Who or what would you like to light a candle for today?
