If tonglen ultimately includes all beings, why is it often so difficult to include ourselves? The practice of tonglen is fairly well known among students of Tibetan Buddhism. However, it is very common for even seasoned practitioners to meet difficulty when practicing tonglen for themselves, usually focusing on external beings.
Whether it’s a difficult conversation with a partner or family member, a make-it-or-break-it corporate pitch, or a tense exchange with a stranger, you can do this brief grounding practice on the spot.