At the cross, Jesus and Mary Magdalene shared a rhythm of breath—taking in the world’s pain, breathing out love. This reflection, inspired by Cynthia Bourgeault, explores how their witness mirrors the Buddhist practice of Tonglen and invites us into the same sacred exchange.
I love tying the practice of Tonglen to the story of the crucifixion. And I so appreciate the reminder of this powerful practice to deal with the world atrocities as well as personal struggles. Thank you for this.
Good Teacher, thank you for this beautiful teaching — Mary & Jesus together in tonglen. It brings tears to my eyes. Yes, tonglen is what the world needs more of.♥️
Most days since January 6th, I’ve tried each morning to not feel frustration, anger, fear and despair - and most days, I struggle to hold on to any lasting sense of peace beyond a few brief moments. But hope has not yet left me. Thankyou for sharing this. I so need to breathe love.
Yes. Peace can feel slippery when the world keeps shouting, but hope is proof you’re still in the fight. Breathing love is how we keep that hope alive long enough to matter.
Excellent post. A group of us meet weekly for Centering Prayer and then discuss part of a book we're reading. The current book is Cynthia Bourgeault's "The Eye of the Heart", and the section we discussed yesterday talks about "Cosmic Dialysis" which is what Bourgeault calls Tonglen in the book (she does use the term Tonglen once). Both you and she make it sound like such a rich practice. I'm going to have to get into it.
Never would i have connected Jesus, Mary & the crucifixion with Tonglen practice. It makes such realistic yet ethereal sense….& totally alters a lifelong way of perceiving something so rooted in tradition. Touching, heart melting & makes more sense than any other way I’ve read or heard the story told. Your gift is a gem & glows lovingly & bravely 🌅
I cannot imagine it any other way. What was so harsh & painful with nothing but heartbreak in it is now flooded with a whole new way of being in unbearable circumstances & finally for me gives meaning & beauty to what i never understood. What an example of how to live and “die”.
Total paradigm shift in my being in my perception of this & anything more i say will be redundant so I will shut up with altered love. 💟
Altered love is the best kind. It means the story is still alive enough to keep working on us. If Mary and Jesus can turn even the worst human cruelty into a transmission of compassion, then nothing in our own lives is beyond redemption. That’s not just theology. That’s a way of breathing.
This is written in the most devotional way. Giving words to the unspoken: Two hearts breathing as one & pain transformed into love, not in spite of suffering but through it.
The mysticism in this is strongly felt in a profound way.
For me it was also a very sacred way to start my day. Thank you my friend 🙏
So I’m back for a second and third re-reading of this scroll, and the comments. A comment in another discussion about the labyrinth caught my attention just now: You, VMB: “Will you stay present even when the center feels too soon?” Whoa! I’ve been doing everything except reading anything Mary Magdalene for a few days. I see, feel, sense a deep connection between Tonglen Practice (which is new to me) and your question. OK. So now I will start practicing Tonglen breathing. The image I’m getting is that this may help to ground me on the way to the center of the labyrinth…grounded and staying present. ❤️🙏❤️
Beautiful, Sandra. Tonglen is like finding out the labyrinth was breathing you the whole time. Every inhale, you take in the world’s ache. Every exhale, you give it the mercy it forgot it had. Mary knew this rhythm long before Tibet ever carved mandalas. Stay with it. The center will meet you when it’s ready, and it always is.
Wonderful connection here! As a hospital chaplain I often find myself doing some form of tonglen for my sweet, suffering folks. It is a very Christian, and Magdalene, practice to try to alleviate the suffering of others.
That’s beautiful, Beth. Tonglen is pure Magdalene. Breathing in the ache, giving back mercy. She never fled from the wound. She carried it, transmuted it, and handed back love. What you’re doing at the bedside is the gospel that survived Rome’s scissors.
I love tying the practice of Tonglen to the story of the crucifixion. And I so appreciate the reminder of this powerful practice to deal with the world atrocities as well as personal struggles. Thank you for this.
Yes, the cross holds more than doctrine. It’s a lens for transforming the world’s grief and our own. Glad the reminder met you today.
Good Teacher, thank you for this beautiful teaching — Mary & Jesus together in tonglen. It brings tears to my eyes. Yes, tonglen is what the world needs more of.♥️
Grateful it touched you, Karen. The world shifts when we dare to breathe in its pain and return it love.
Tonglen protects empathy with the balance of giving love & healing — otherwise, empathy can be too heavy.
Most days since January 6th, I’ve tried each morning to not feel frustration, anger, fear and despair - and most days, I struggle to hold on to any lasting sense of peace beyond a few brief moments. But hope has not yet left me. Thankyou for sharing this. I so need to breathe love.
Yes. Peace can feel slippery when the world keeps shouting, but hope is proof you’re still in the fight. Breathing love is how we keep that hope alive long enough to matter.
Excellent post. A group of us meet weekly for Centering Prayer and then discuss part of a book we're reading. The current book is Cynthia Bourgeault's "The Eye of the Heart", and the section we discussed yesterday talks about "Cosmic Dialysis" which is what Bourgeault calls Tonglen in the book (she does use the term Tonglen once). Both you and she make it sound like such a rich practice. I'm going to have to get into it.
I had not learned of Tonglen before now. This is beautiful. Thank you for teaching this to us!
I’m glad it reached you, Dawn. Tonglen has a quiet way of changing how we meet the world.
I can't even express how much I needed that today. Thank you.
Then it landed exactly where it needed to. Grateful our paths crossed here today.
Never would i have connected Jesus, Mary & the crucifixion with Tonglen practice. It makes such realistic yet ethereal sense….& totally alters a lifelong way of perceiving something so rooted in tradition. Touching, heart melting & makes more sense than any other way I’ve read or heard the story told. Your gift is a gem & glows lovingly & bravely 🌅
That means a lot. Some truths hide in plain sight until someone names them. Once you see them, it’s hard to imagine the story any other way.
I cannot imagine it any other way. What was so harsh & painful with nothing but heartbreak in it is now flooded with a whole new way of being in unbearable circumstances & finally for me gives meaning & beauty to what i never understood. What an example of how to live and “die”.
Total paradigm shift in my being in my perception of this & anything more i say will be redundant so I will shut up with altered love. 💟
Altered love is the best kind. It means the story is still alive enough to keep working on us. If Mary and Jesus can turn even the worst human cruelty into a transmission of compassion, then nothing in our own lives is beyond redemption. That’s not just theology. That’s a way of breathing.
This is written in the most devotional way. Giving words to the unspoken: Two hearts breathing as one & pain transformed into love, not in spite of suffering but through it.
The mysticism in this is strongly felt in a profound way.
For me it was also a very sacred way to start my day. Thank you my friend 🙏
That’s the paradox, isn’t it? Love doesn’t dodge the wound. It learns its rhythm there. Grateful this met you at the dawn.
Yes it was a fine read… 🙏🙏
This resonates as the technique to achieve the bringing outward of inward resolute peace. I commit to practicing this practice.
Beautifully said. Resolute peace has a way of leaking into the world without forcing itself. The more you breathe it, the more it breathes you.
OMG this is so powerful and tangible. Thank you.
Glad it landed with you, Madeleine. May it stay close when you need it most.
Mouth agape at the beauty of this.
I will hold this tight: "breath is spirit"!!!!!!
Glad that line found you. Spirit’s been hiding in plain sight in every inhale since the dawn of lungs.
Thank you for sharing this practice. Namaste.
Glad it spoke to you, Andrea. May it keep opening new spaces in the heart.
Pain in, love out
Thank you
Exactly. The alchemy worth practicing every day.
So I’m back for a second and third re-reading of this scroll, and the comments. A comment in another discussion about the labyrinth caught my attention just now: You, VMB: “Will you stay present even when the center feels too soon?” Whoa! I’ve been doing everything except reading anything Mary Magdalene for a few days. I see, feel, sense a deep connection between Tonglen Practice (which is new to me) and your question. OK. So now I will start practicing Tonglen breathing. The image I’m getting is that this may help to ground me on the way to the center of the labyrinth…grounded and staying present. ❤️🙏❤️
Beautiful, Sandra. Tonglen is like finding out the labyrinth was breathing you the whole time. Every inhale, you take in the world’s ache. Every exhale, you give it the mercy it forgot it had. Mary knew this rhythm long before Tibet ever carved mandalas. Stay with it. The center will meet you when it’s ready, and it always is.
Thank you.❤️🙏❤️😎🐶
Wonderful connection here! As a hospital chaplain I often find myself doing some form of tonglen for my sweet, suffering folks. It is a very Christian, and Magdalene, practice to try to alleviate the suffering of others.
That’s beautiful, Beth. Tonglen is pure Magdalene. Breathing in the ache, giving back mercy. She never fled from the wound. She carried it, transmuted it, and handed back love. What you’re doing at the bedside is the gospel that survived Rome’s scissors.
Wonderful helpful practice…will take into my heart meditations. Thank you.