Buddha taught that the nature of suffering is impermanence. This is the inevitable dissatisfaction brought on by the flow of change within the cycle of our existence.
At a meditation last week, we were taught to take the suffering of another person ( tonglen ) and placing that suffering within our own hearts.......we breath in the pain....we breath out relief. We inhale the darkness...... and exhale light.....by performing this practice we show true compassion.
We breathe the pain into our hearts, which is visulized as a bright burning furnace of pure light............Where it is devoured by the love we then send back out as love comfort and relief.
"Whatever joy there is in this world,
All comes from desiring others to be
happy.
And whatever suffering there is in
this world
All comes from desiring myself to
be happy.
If all the injury,
Fear and pain in this world
Arises from grasping at a self,
Then what use is that great
ghost to me?.
Therefore,in order to allay all
harms inflicted on me
And in order to pacify the
suffering of others,
I shall give up myself to others
And cherish them as I do my very self."
Shant'ideva; Guide to the
Bodhisattva's way of life.
Thanks for offering us this quote Oakapple. This text is so profound and in this quote there is the heart of the matter: compassion for others' suffering and recognising the delusion of a separate self.
Tonglen practice is a very profound method. An experience of the nature of reality is the result. Buddha nature is revealed.
Peace and love,
Norbu
Thankyou for this beautiful quote
frayja