All about compassion

Compassion is something we have spoken about a couple of times on this blog. Nearly in every article, we shall read about compassion. Why is this so important, and why do we place so much focus on compassion? Before we go into more depth, let's first consider how we understand compassion.

We may feel that being compassionate means that we are physically doing things for others, such as donating money, volunteering, giving food, etc. Or, we may feel that when we feel sorry for others or when we are a bit sympathetic to others, then we are being compassionate. Let's check up. Are we truly as compassionate as we claim to be, or as we think we are?

We may feel that when we do something such as mentioned above, that we are then putting our compassion into action and really showing the world how compassionate and kind we are. But, is this true? Are we truly doing it from a pure heart, or is there some ego involved? Is there some ego seeking recognition for the kind deeds done? Deeds appearing as kind deeds on the surface, but when we investigate, we find that these deeds are arising from an ego-mind. Wanting to 'change' the world into what we think or feel is perfect, a limited opinion of what should be. Acting from our limited understanding of what 'harmony' means, and then getting the ego involved, attempting to straighten things out. We may find this to be true, more often than we are aware of it.

Why do we need compassion?

Before we go into this a bit deeper, let's consider the concept of compassion, and why compassion is such an important aspect of our spiritual path and practice. When we have a spiritual path without compassion, we shall find it very difficult to make deep progress. Sure, we can have some insights, we can have some realizations, but if the main focus of our practice revolves around satisfying a separate 'me', doing things just for the sake of 'me', we shall find this concept of 'me' to be the biggest obstacle on our path.

Compassion comes with selflessness, moving our own welfare to the background, and focusing on the welfare of others, the happiness of others. Again, this does not mean that we merely do things for others, no. It is a change that happens internally. Compassion comes from the heart. It comes from the heart and is accompanied by cultivating a mindset that cherishes others, and not cherishing the I, the me, the illusion of self. In fact, we first need to work on our ego minds, on letting go of satisfying the ego, and with this transformation of mind, we simultaneously start to open our hearts.

In Tibetan Buddhism, there is a word for such actions or intentions - Bodhicitta. Acting with Bodhicitta intention, cultivating a Bodhicitta mindset. Now, just because this is a word that is used in Buddhism, does not mean that cultivating such a mindset is limited to the practice of Buddhism. No, in fact, regardless of our religion, our beliefs, we can set our intentions to be selfless, to cherish others, and to be compassionate. We can belong to a Christian religion, a Muslim religion, or even label ourselves an Atheist, it does not matter. Compassion is relevant, always, everywhere.

Now again, we may ask why compassion is so important? What makes it such an important aspect of the path to inner freedom?

Being selfless allows us to go beyond the ego-mind. It allows us to shatter the illusions of self and others, and it brings us into a feeling of unity, of oneness. This is what we are striving for, to be in harmony again with our Universe, to remove the ego that has been the root of all our unhappiness and suffering.

Compassion makes the heart tender. It opens our hearts and allows love to flow from this space. A great love, not necessarily the action of loving, but it brings us to a point of being love. Instead of loving on an individual level, we start to live in love, to be in love. We become love.

Putting compassion into action

This may sound all good and promising, even a bit like a fairy-tale idea, but let's be honest, we are most probably not going to wake up one morning being compassion and love itself, with no more ego left. This means that we are walking a path, a spiritual path to freedom, peace, and happiness. On this path, we work on ourselves. We study, we introspect, we reflect, we meditate. 

We meditate on the suffering of others, how fortunate we are in comparison to a lot of people. We meditate on what terrible conditions a lot of beings are living in, living in the middle of wars, droughts, famine, illness. Not limited to humans, we can also meditate on how it must feel to be an animal, to be unable to express yourself when you are in pain, or when you are hungry. We can imagine how it must feel to live in the wild, having to kill in order to eat every day, and how terrible such a life must be. Some animals being bred in dreadful conditions, just to have short lives before they are slaughtered. All around us, we can find inspiration for meditating on compassion!
We meditate on this, and we begin to feel for others. Not merely thinking of them, but feeling for them. When we do this, our heart becomes open, it becomes soft, and we start to become sensitive to the suffering happening around us.

Instead of being caught up in our own worlds, our own worries, and wishes, we start to become sensitive to the sadness of those around us, we can connect with them, and we can act in ways that help them to deal with their suffering. Again, this does not mean that we are removing their suffering or striving to end their suffering, but we can assist them, support them through their suffering situations.

With an open heart, with love flowing from it, we can take this love wherever we go. Wherever we are, we bring love. Even when we are not physically doing anything, we are bringing the presence of love and peace to those around us, and this is one of the most precious things we can offer anyone. We can offer them peace at mind, when in our presence.

So, with this in mind, we can start each day by meditating on compassion. Even if it is just five minutes, we can dedicate five minutes to think of others, to feel connected to those around us, and to open our hearts towards them. Soon, we shall start to notice how our hearts become soft, how our hearts start to open, and how there is a presence of love within us, a natural sense of caring for those around us. Hand-in-hand with this goes the dissolving of the ego. The smaller we as an ego become, the bigger we actually become. Bigger, in connection to our whole Universe.

This gift, we can carry with us, sharing it wherever we go. A gift that keeps on giving!

Compassion makes our hearts open, blossoming like a flower and offering those around us the opportunity to enjoy the scent of love we leave, wherever we go.