Calm, Kind, Resilient

07.10.2020 CALM, KIND, RESILIENT The July 2020 issue of Lion’s Roar features teachings and meditations from favorite dharma teachers such as Jack Kornfield and Sharon Salzberg to help us face these increasingly stressful times. You can access the whole issue now if you subscribe to Lion's Roar magazine and include digital access. In this Weekend Reader, you’ll discover links to Jack’s teaching, “The Bodhisattva Response to Coronavirus” from the current issue, plus a Tonglen instruction from Pema Chödrön, and three small practices for living in the coronavirus era.

The Bodhisattva Response to Coronavirus Buddhist teacher Jack Kornfield on what we can do in this confusing, tough time. In Buddhist teachings, the bodhisattva is someone who vows to alleviate suffering and bring blessings in every circumstance. A bodhisattva chooses to live with dignity and courage and radiates compassion for all, no matter where they find themselves. This is not a metaphor. As bodhisattvas, we are now asked to hold a certain measure of the tragedy of the world and respond with love.

How to Practice Tonglen Pema Chödrön teaches us “sending and taking,” an ancient Buddhist practice to awaken compassion. With each in-breath, we take in others’ pain. With each out-breath, we send them relief. Tonglen practice, also known as “taking and sending,” reverses our usual logic of avoiding suffering and seeking pleasure. In tonglen practice, we visualize taking in the pain of others with every in-breath and sending out whatever will benefit them on the out-breath. In the process, we become liberated from age- old patterns of selfishness. We begin to feel love for both ourselves and others; we begin to take care of ourselves and others.

3 Small Practices for Living in the Coronavirus Era From Bonnie Myotai Treace of Hermitage Heart Zen come these three “small” (but powerful!) reflections and practices to help us stay open-hearted and connected as we reckon with the fear and uncertainty that the coronavirus has brought so suddenly into our lives. One Small Practice: Gassho Mind Someone approaches and you need them not to get closer. There will be a flicker of fear or anxiety. Exhale. Say, “please stop there” and bring your hands palm-to-palm into gassho, the mudra of intimacy. Step back a bit if you need to. Smile and meet their eyes warmly...

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