Cattāri Brahmavihārā

As I have been experimenting with the practice of tonglen, I have found that there is one particular approach that resonates with me. Rather than attempting to take on someone else’s suffering in some kind of masochistic practice aimed at purifying my own kamma (and this itself is likely a complete misunderstanding of the practice) I have found it much more effective as a way to gain more empathy and understanding of whoever I am practicing with. In short, I don’t try to visualize there suffering in the traditional manner of a black, only substance which I such out of them on the in breath and return as white light on the exhalation. As beautiful as this practice is it simply leaves me cold. Instead I have been using it to contemplate the way a particular person might be experiencing dukkha on the inhalation and send them goodwill and kindness on the out.

I am sure there are those who would say I’m not really practicing tonglen and I might have to agree with them but that’s quite besides the point. Any practice or provisional view that helps to cultivate the brahmaviharas and friends my connections with my brothers and sisters in birth, sickness, adding and death is a practice I intend to develop, labels be damned.