Tonglen is part of the ancient compassion practice tool box of Seven Points of Mind Training. In this meditation, you're guided in Tonglen for yourself, at every stage of being, from pre-birth, though life, death and afterlife. Follow the instructions as you hear them and learn in real time where you are self-compassionate and where it does not yet flow freely. The best results will come from following along without talking to yourself as we go. Just listen and do—it's very simple. And then noti...
Apr 04, 2025•51 min•Ep. 37
We can do Tonglen for someone who is dying if we are with them, or not. We can do Tonglen for people who have died at another time. whether we were there or not. Tonglen may be done for people we know, and complete strangers. Of course it can be done for animals, as well.
Mar 28, 2025•15 min•Ep. 36
These are indeed difficult times and not the first and not the last. As practitioners, we have to find balance in chaos, or at least enough steadiness and equanimity to move forward to awakening and to ease the suffering of the world. In the midst of everything--is everything. In the midst of the worst times of darkness are light and wholeness. We have the tools to do this together.
Mar 21, 2025•33 min•Ep. 35
The writer, Annie Dillard, in her book, The Writing Life, said “The life of sensation is the life of greed; it requires more and more. The life of the spirit requires less and less; time is ample and its passage sweet.” In this episode we explore the life of less and less, which as it turns out, is the life of more and more in the most delightful ways.
Mar 14, 2025•16 min•Ep. 34
As practitioners, what is inclusivity? What is integration? How are these principles and practices entwined with truth and dharma?
Mar 07, 2025•18 min•Ep. 33
Tonglen is a profound yet accessible practice in Tibetan Buddhism—an act of taking in suffering and sending out goodness. In a traditional tonglen session which is done in stages, we begin with ourselves, and progress to a loved one, a neutral person, a difficult person, and finally, all beings. But many people have difficulty in the stage of tonglen for self, just as they do with self-compassion in everyday life. In this episode, we break down the architecture of the segment of tonglen for self...
Feb 14, 2025•51 min•Ep. 32
This episode was originally published on April 28, 2020. Everything you need to awaken is right here, right now. It's your life. Will you live it? Dekeling, in Tibetan, means 'a place of happiness'. Our offering is to support for your dharma practice & your life in an accessible, inclusive way. All are welcome. All are very welcome. https://www.dekeling.online/ The music for this episode is “Starlight” - by Podington Bear of Portland, Oregon - Thanks to composer Chad Crouch. Support Chad her...
Feb 11, 2025•19 min•Ep. 31
This simple meditation can help you calm and stay present in experience. No bells, no liturgy, just simple bare-bones mind on the breath meditation.
Feb 10, 2025•11 min•Ep. 30
In this classic Buddhist meditation, we use the experiential metaphor of sitting like a mountain to help accomplish stability, stillness, and groundedness in the midst of change, busyness, and all the 'weather' of life.
Jan 26, 2025•10 min•Ep. 29
In this episode Lama Lekshe talks about sage advice from other practitioners and her own journey to discover the possibility of resting...all the time.
Jan 23, 2025•15 min•Ep. 28
Using the metaphor of snowfall, experience absorbing the wellbeing that is always available, no matter the circumstances. Care for yourself and all beings as you share the experience with a larger group of beings in each stage of in the classic way of 'dissolving the barriers.' This not only sets the stage for cultivation of compassion for yourself, loved ones, strangers, people you find difficult and all beings—it also gives an experiential taste of non-duality.
Jan 21, 2025•19 min•Ep. 27
Challenging times can be the best times to practice. Suffering is compelling, so you might find that resting awareness on your experience is easier than when things are going well. This episode has a longish riff on how to find a teacher and how you know when you've met a true teacher.
Apr 18, 2024•23 min•Ep. 26
This is a brief guided meditation on the stages of dying or 'bardos.' In Buddhism, the term 'bardo' typically refers to the intermediate state between death and rebirth; though it can refer to any transition. The most well-known and elaborated upon teachings on the bardo come from texts like the Tibetan Book of the Dead (also known as the Bardo Thodol ), which is a key text in the Nyingma tradition. The Bardo teachings often outline various stages or phases that the consciousness of a deceased p...
Apr 18, 2024•15 min•Ep. 25
Why would I experiment of holding a view if I am not sure it's true? This experiment can cause you to learn something beyond your current knowing—through direct experience. No belief is required. Just hold a new view, and see how it impacts your thoughts, speech and actions. If you like the effects, continue holding the view. If not, you can always try it again later—or not!
Apr 18, 2024•17 min•Ep. 24
You know those rumors you heard about Tibetan Buddhism? Listen and see if they are true. Any time we adopt a custom, philosophy or tradition from another culture, we're bound to misinterpret a few things. This talk unravels a few of the veils of misunderstanding surrounding Tibetan Buddhism, shedding light on misconceptions that sometimes obscure its profound teachings.
Apr 17, 2024•27 min•Ep. 23
The mindful recitation of Seven-Branch Prayer, which is often done inside another practice—like Green Tara, for example— epitomizes all the practices of gathering the accumulations as well as the purification of harmful deeds, thoughts, or speech and also of obscurations. All the major points of practice are present in the Seven Branches. Each of the branches antidotes a specific obstacle in practice. There is a reference in this episode to the Four Powers, also, which is a framework for confess...
Apr 17, 2024•25 min•Ep. 22
Step into a space of introspection and compassionate inquiry as you embark on a contemplative journey through the landscape of global conflict. If you are an experienced practitioner of Tonglen, you already understand its profound power to use suffering as a springboard for compassion; to allow fear to be a foundation for courage, and for contemplation of conflict to blossom into a wider and deeper understanding. Today, we'll practice beyond the boundaries of our personal experiences and into th...
Apr 10, 2024•14 min•Ep. 21
As we journey through life, our paths often intertwine with those of animals, who become companions on our journey. Their presence enriches our lives, offering us love, loyalty, and a profound connection to the natural world. In their eyes, we see reflections of ourselves, reminding us that their lives and deaths are no less significant than our own. In moments of transition, such as when a beloved animal companion approaches the end of their life, we may turn to practices like Tonglen to offer ...
Apr 10, 2024•21 min•Ep. 20
Counting the breath meditation involves a deliberate and focused observation of the breath. The practitioner assumes a comfortable posture conducive to alertness and relaxation. With eyes either gently closed or slightly open, attention is drawn inward to the sensation of breathing. As the breath flows naturally, the practitioner directs their awareness to the rhythm of exhalation. With each outbreath, there is a mental noting or counting of the breath. This counting occurs silently within the m...
Apr 10, 2024•7 min•Ep. 19
In Tibetan Buddhism, the term "bardo" refers to the intermediate states between death and rebirth. The most well-known bardo is the "Bardo Thodol" or the "Tibetan Book of the Dead," which describes the experiences one goes through during the intermediate state after death. According to Tibetan Buddhist belief, how one navigates these bardos greatly influences the next rebirth. Meditations on the stages of the bardos typically involve practices aimed at familiarizing practitioners with the experi...
Apr 10, 2024•27 min•Ep. 18
In Buddhism, the concept of the 'unbounded view' typically refers to the perception of reality that transcends narrow, limited perspectives. It involves seeing the interconnectedness and interdependence of all phenomena, understanding the impermanent and ever-changing nature of existence, and recognizing the absence of inherent self or essence in things. This view is often associated with the realization of emptiness (sunyata), which is a key teaching in Mahayana Buddhism. Emptiness does not mea...
Apr 10, 2024•20 min•Ep. 17
The choice between practicing Mahayana or Vajrayana Buddhism is deeply personal and depends on individual inclinations, aspirations, and circumstances. Mahayana Buddhism emphasizes the cultivation of compassion and the aspiration to attain enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings, while Vajrayana Buddhism offers advanced teachings and practices for those seeking rapid spiritual transformation through methods such as deity yoga, tantra, and guru devotion. Ultimately, the decision shou...
Apr 07, 2024•31 min•Ep. 16
In Buddhism, "tendrel" (Tibetan: རྟེན་འབྲེལ་) refers to the concept of interdependence or interconnectedness. It is closely related to the Buddhist principle of dependent origination (pratītyasamutpāda), which teaches that all phenomena arise in dependence upon causes and conditions. The term "tendrel" is commonly used in Tibetan Buddhism, where it signifies the intricate web of connections between all phenomena. It emphasizes the idea that everything in the universe is interconnected and interd...
Apr 05, 2024•7 min•Ep. 15
Compassion is the wish that the suffering of others be relieved. It's also the wish that the causes of that suffering be dispelled. When learning compassion practices, people sometimes express fear. What are we afraid of? Vulnerability, fear of boundaries dissolving, fear of overwhelm, inadequacy; there are so many places we could find resistance to experiencing direct and intimate contact with our own suffering and the suffering of the world. Is is possible that experiencing compassion will not...
Mar 23, 2024•28 min•Ep. 14
In Buddhism, one of the greatest generosities is to remove fear and the causes of fear for other beings. How can we practice generosity by offering fearlessness to others? What does fearlessness look like? To alleviate suffering brought about by fear, to promote safety and security, to empower and liberate others—or at least not to oppress them, is a start. Generosity, including the removal of fear, is an expression of compassion and wisdom in Buddhist practice. It requires understanding the cau...
Mar 23, 2024•26 min•Ep. 13
In this episode I am remembering and sharing memories of my own American dharma teacher's teachings and teaching style. Even thinking about it now inspires my practice and my own teaching. He was humble and remarkably simple in his delivery—but years later I realize how much truth was in every sentence. You can listen to some of the teachings he gave in this last years here , too. The collection has transcripts as well as audio recordings. The music for this episode is “Starlight” - by Podington...
Mar 22, 2024•17 min•Ep. 12
A meditation in the Five Elements. Jogen Sensei is a Zen Priest, as well as a facilitator. You can further explore his facilitation and teachings at solisluna.org The music for this episode is “Starlight” - by Podington Bear of Portland, Oregon - Thanks to composer Chad Crouch. Support Chad here .
Oct 26, 2020•31 min•Ep. 11
The body scan is an effective way to begin or nurture a meditation practice. It helps establish mindfulness. The purpose is to tune in to your body—to connect to the direct experience of the physical body—and to notice all sensations without judgement or commentary. Many people find the body scan relaxing. This makes it pleasant to do, so it's one of the ways beginners can be motivated to increase time spent in formal mediation. It can easily be done lying down, which means it's a good choice fo...
Sep 23, 2020•25 min•Ep. 10
Doubt is one of the five hindrances. Doubt is also an essential element of practice. In this episode we look at the different kinds of doubt and how to navigate each. We also learn from the Buddha's teachings on the Kalama Sutra about how to know which teachings are true. The music for this episode is “Starlight” - by Podington Bear of Portland, Oregon - Thanks to composer Chad Crouch. Support Chad here ....
Aug 08, 2020•32 min•Ep. 9
In this short podcast, Lama Lekshe talks about how to discover 'indestructible' ease and joy. This is a 'pocket practice'. You CAN take it with you--dozens of times each day. The music for this episode is “Starlight” - by Podington Bear of Portland, Oregon - Thanks to composer Chad Crouch. Support Chad here .
Jul 14, 2020•22 min•Ep. 8
