Buddha Speaks – Compassion For All

  The candle of compassion – picture from Microsoft Clip Art

 

The Buddhist definition of compassion is “ wanting others to be free from suffering. So compassion is the definition of the highest scope of motivation. It is said that to generate genuine compassion, one needs to realise that oneself is suffering, that an end to suffering is possible, and that other beings similarly want to be free from suffering.”

From Lectures on Kamalishila’s Stages of Meditation in the Middle Way School  by by Kenchen Thrangu Rinpoche:– “Generally, everyone feels compassion, but the compassion is flawed. In what way? We measure it out. For instance, some feel compassion for human beings but not for animals and other types of sentient beings. Others feel compassion for animals and some other types of sentient beings but not for humans. Others, who feel compassion for human beings, feel compassion for the human beings of their own country but not for the human beings of other countries. Then, some feel compassion for their friends but not for anyone else. Thus, it seems that we draw a line somewhere. We feel compassion for those on one side of the line but not for those on the other side of the line. We feel compassion for one group but not for another. That is where our compassion is flawed. What did the Buddha say about that? It is not necessary to draw that line. Nor is it suitable. Everyone wants compassion, and we can extend our compassion to everyone."  http://viewonbuddhism.org

Why have I included these two passages?  What I am noticing as I watch different videos and read the news headlines is that there seems to be a lot of what we might call “tragedy” occurring around the world.  As the lecture points out, people seem to be saying that some tragedies require help while others do not.  The “drawing the line” seems to be happening based on some guideline that I do not understand.  Drawing the line of course, is actually passing judgement. This is one of the character flaws that we are all working to erase. 

It seems too, for some reason, that governments are feeling monetarily compassionate for some organizations – those that cry “help” the loudest or those that have their buddies on it – it is not clear.  Yet there is a drawing of the line.  Why not give money back to the tax payers, instead of giving the tax payer money to mismanaged businesses.

Our Ancestors did not get the bailing out that currently happens today.  Most often, businesses did not fail on this scale because they did business in a much smaller way – they knew their community and vice-versa.  There was the community of compassion that kept the economy flowing without greed kicking in – generally speaking. 

Perhaps we will now see a return to the state of love with compassion that seems to have disappeared.

I wish you love and compassion,

Judy@angelsandancestors.com