Chapter 5. Practice Lojong with Tonglen
5. Practice Lojong with Tonglen
Whatever numberless wealth you have, whatever numberless enjoyments you have, however many hats you have, however many trousers you have, however many coats you have (for wintertime, for summertime, and for springtime), however many shoes you have (for outside, for inside, and for parties), however much money you have in the bank, make charity of all these to every sentient being—to the numberless hell beings, hungry ghosts, animals, human beings, asuras, and suras. Think that these things also become wish-granting and that they receive whatever they want and whatever they need. Then, think that the numberless hell beings become enlightened, the numberless hungry ghosts become enlightened, the numberless animals become enlightened, the numberless human beings become enlightened, the numberless asuras become enlightened, and the numberless suras become enlightened. (Lama Zopa Rinpoche)
Lama Zopa Rinpoche with the actor Richard Gere at Root Institute, 2017 (photo by Ven. Losang Sherab)
POINTS FOR REFLECTION
As you read this chapter of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s teachings and watch the video excerpts keep the following points in mind and reflect on them:
- What is one of the benefits of tonglen?
- What should you do when you are sick and dying?
- What should you write down to do when you are dying?
- What should you study and why before doing tonglen?
- What is the motivation for taking others’ suffering upon yourself?
- What is the motivation for giving them your happiness?
- How should you visualize your body when giving it away?
- What else can you visualize giving away?
- What do sentient beings receive from you?
Once you have finished reading this chapter, do the related meditations and mindfulness practices.