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Tonglen

World Religion
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A Tibetan Buddhist meditation practice of “giving and taking,” where one breathes in others’ suffering and breathes out relief and joy.

Detailed Definition
Tonglen reverses self-cherishing, transforming pain into compassion. In poetry, it appears as a black cloud inhaled, white light exhaled—alchemy of the heart. Poets use it to depict radical empathy, where the practitioner becomes a vessel for healing, turning fear into fearless love.
Example
Example in poetry:
A Tibetan poem: “Tonglen is breathing in pain, breathing out peace—alchemizing suffering into compassion”; In a modern verse, “My tonglen is listening to my friend’s grief without fixing it”; A minimalist lyric: “Tonglen: love that inhales darkness”; A student’s reflection: “Tonglen turns empathy into action.”
Additional Notes
Tonglen is a Tibetan Buddhist meditation practice meaning "giving and taking." The practitioner visualizes taking in the suffering, pain, and negativity of others on the in-breath, and on the out-breath, sending them happiness, peace, and healing. It is a powerful method for developing compassion (karuna) and breaking down the attachment to a solid self. For poets, Tonglen is a radical and poignant metaphor for altruism, empathy, and the transformative power of compassionate exchange.
Also Known As
Giving and Taking
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