You can help your loved ones immediately with this practice

*Please note this is part of a series based on the book Wild Mercy: Living the Fierce and Tender Wisdom of the Women Mystics by Mirabai Starr. The meditation is effective with or without reading the book, but if you’d like to join the book club, click here.

Most meditations focus on something self-affirming, enlightening or inspiring, but this week I’d like to introduce you to something that may be new to you: Tonglen. It is a Buddhist practice known as “taking and sending,” and as you help others with it, you are in turn helped by connecting to a deeper spiritual Self.

It is about taking the pain or suffering of another and turning it into something light and bright. Often you will do this for a loved one, but you can most certainly focus on an aspect of your country, the planet, or any group you wish to help ease.

This helps us practice and recognize selflessness and compassion as an important aspect of our being.

Thank you for listening. Enjoy!