“Throughout my many lives and until this moment, whatever virtue I have accomplished, including the merit generated by this practice, and all that I will ever attain, this I offer for the welfare of sentient beings.”
Excerpt from: “Tonglen for Our Own Suffering: 7 Variations on an Ancient Practice” by Swami Girijananda.
Ever since I renounced tonglen practice I have felt as if I have come unmoored. Perhaps it is simply an accident of fate but it seems like the feeling of being adrift took root as a result of giving up giving and taking. And why would that be? I really have no idea because nothing makes sense when I try to reason through it but maybe it has something to do with cutting that connection to others.
Once I had decided to protect myself from the “damage” of others’ suffering I cut off my vital connection to them and to my heart. So, it seems that I was premature in my renunciation.
Cattāri Brahmavihārā 
Leave a Reply