Tonglen takes a unique approach, focusing on embracing and transforming suffering. It involves inhaling the pain and suffering not only of oneself but also of others and exhaling happiness for all. As Pema Chodron beautifully puts it in her book The Places That Scare You, "we breathe in what is painful and unwanted with the sincere wish that we and others could be free of suffering. As we do so, we drop the story line that goes along with the pain and feel the underlying energy. We completely open our hearts and minds to whatever arises. Exhaling, we send out relief from the pain with the intention that we and others be happy."
