28 The Common Ground of Compassion

Alan Wallace guides a 24-minute meditation on compassion, asking
the question, "How can we be free from suffering?" He teaches the
use of a visualization of a radiant orb of light at one's heart,
metaphorically representing one's own Buddhanature, into which
one draws in one's own or others' suffering, and then observes
its incineration in the blazing brilliance of the orb of light.


The guided meditation begins at 19:40.


After the meditation, Alan speaks freely for a while, then
answers the following two questions:


1. After hearing your story about the yogi who was totally
supported in his pursuit of dharma, despite having no financial
resources of his own, I am curious about the circumstances in
which students of yours have been able to go into solitary
retreat. How does one live a life of solitude in retreat?


2. What is really happening in the practice we did today? Does it
have any measurable effect outside of my mind? How do thoughts,
feelings, and aspiration differ in their effects?