Buddha once said that compassion that does not include yourself is incomplete...
but really what is compassion? i read somewhere that it's common passion, the ability to see other people in their position and to understand, to care...so often we get caught up in our own lives, we don't see the walking wounded around us. it never fails to amaze me how much we all have in common, even our problems.
the instinct to judge runs strong in all of us, but it is possible to listen to a deeper wisdom and know that none of us is perfect. to try and understand why, to care, to love. and if we actually put aside our own interests, feelings, biases and prejudices for one moment, we can see that the other is a complete human being, someone whom God loved so much and was worth His creating him or her. someone made in the image and likeness of God.
it's not easy, but it's worth it. or as someone wise told me some time ago, stand on the mountain top and see people as whole, as 3-d, not some cardboard characters in 2-d who are more caricatures of bad points than anything else. then when you have seen them as such, you will become more tender and willing to forgive...and perhaps even love.
compassion isn't weakness, it calls for strength and courage...the 2 things i aspire to and have been aspiring to all this while.
and as Buddha said, i have learned to include myself in those i have compassion towards. i have learned to be kinder to myself, to be gentler on myself even when i mess up...
may the Lord bless you and keep you, and may all of you always remember the beauty of compassion both in your own lives and in the lives of others.
2 comments:
Compassion...what a kind word...
It is not really that easy to be compassionate. I believe in one's self, there is a kindness. It may be harder to see it if the kindness that exist is only a a little bit and more obvious when it's more. Perhaps that kindness came from the conscience that I believe everyone possess. However, to me, to be kind does not equal to compassionate. You can be kind at times (when you feel like doing charity or feel sympathize over the plight of the unfortunate ones). But if you can be kind at all times and it is something so inherent in yourself, then it turns to compassion, and not mere kindness. Hence to me, to be compassionate, is even harder to be kind. To have compassion means you do not mind over little things other people committed that annoy you. It means you are ever willing to forgive because you always think in the shoes of the wrong-doer. It means you have that natural sympathy that makes you want to help the person and you show it by action. And it means so many more. It is hard for me to be kind most of the time. And it is even harder to be compassionate at times. It's not easy to control your anger and say to yourself that the other person may have his or her reasons for annoying you when you are annoyed. It is not easy to forgive the other person who had done some great betrayal to you. And it is not easy to be unselfish of yourself to give up your time and energy to do charities or whatever it may be to help the unfortunate ones.
But it is easier to start by being kind at first. From there, probably it will be easier to learn to be compassionate if you have the will enough to change.
Compassion is, as you put it, something that begins from the heart...until it has become second nature to you...but how long will that take? regardless, it is worth our time and effort.
i like your write up on compassion...plenty of food for thought.
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