Tara Brach Awakening Compassion in a Fearful World: The Practice of Tonglen
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Nov 20, 2025 Explore how digital disconnection impacts our empathy in a world filled with anxiety. Discover the power of compassion amidst fear through the Tibetan practice of tonglen, which transforms suffering into care. Hear moving stories highlighting how perceiving vulnerability awakens our humanity. Engage in contemplative exercises that deepen your connection with others and learn practical tips for practicing tonglen. Join a guided meditation to expand care from one individual to a larger circle, fostering a sense of shared belonging.
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Texting's Emotional Pitfalls
- Tara Brach recounts a New Yorker author's mistake thinking "LOL" meant "lots of love," revealing texting's emotional limits.
- The story shows digital shorthand can create misunderstanding and reduce empathy in relationships.
Digital Life Erodes Compassion
- Social media and digital communication correlate with reduced empathy and compassion on a societal scale.
- Tara Brach links this decline to increased cruelty, division, and barriers to humanitarian aid.
How Compassion Activates In Us
- Compassion arises when we perceive others as real, vulnerable beings and sense shared belonging.
- When relational neural circuits activate we feel caring and want to relieve suffering.