About compassion
"...if people have compassion, naturally that's something they can count
on; even if they have economic problems and their fortune declines, they
still have something to share with fellow human beings. World economies
are always so tenuous and we are subject to so many losses in life, but
a compassionate attitude is something that we can always carry with us.
...Of course, in attempting to explain to someone the importance of
compassion, in some cases, you might be dealing with a very hardened,
individualistic, and selfish person, someone concerned only with her or
his own interests. And it is even possible that there are people who may
not have the capacity to empathize with even someone whom they love or
who may be close to them. But even to such people, it is still possible
to present the importance of compassion and love on the grounds that
it's the best way to fulfill their self-interests. They wish to have
good health, live a longer life, and have peace of mind, happiness, and
joy. And if these are things that they desire, I've heard that there is
scientific evidence that these things can be enhanced by feelings of
love and compassion.
...educating someone about these facts and scientific studies could
certainly encourage some people to cultivate a more compassionate state
of mind. But I think that, even aside from scientific studies, there are
other arguments that people could understand and appreciate from their
own practical or direct everyday experience. For example, you could
point out that lack of compassion leads to a certain ruthlessness. There
are many examples indicating that at some level deep down, ruthless
people generally suffer from a kind of unhappiness and discontent,
people like Stalin and Hitler. Such people suffer from a kind of nagging
sense of insecurity and fear. Even when they are sleeping I think that
sense of fear remains
...these people lack something that you can find in
a more compassionate person--a sense of freedom, a sense of abandonment,
so when you sleep you can relax and let go. Ruthless people never have
that experience. Something is always gripping them; there is some kind
of hold on them, and they aren't able to experience that feeling of
letting go, that sense of freedom.
...There are always different degrees of benefit that one might receive
from practicing various methods and techniques, depending on one's
particular circumstances.
... First, through learning, thoroughly
understanding the value of compassion-- this gives you a feeling of
conviction and determination. Then, employing methods to enhance
empathy, such as using your imagination, your creativity, to visualize
yourself in another's situation. And certain exercises or practices that
you can undertake, such as Tong-Len, serve to strengthen your
compassion. But I think it's important to remember that these
techniques were developed to help as many as possible, at least some
portion of the human population. But it was never expected that these
techniques could help 100 percent of people, the entire human
population.
...the main point really, if we are talking about various methods to
develop compassion, the important thing is that people make a sincere
effort to develop their capacity for compassion. If they make their best
efforts to be kinder, to cultivate compassion and make the world a
better place, then at the end of the day they can say, "At least I've
done my best!"
- from The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living by His Holiness the
Dalai Lama and Howard C. Cutler, M.D.
 |
Categories
Buddhism
Leave a comment