Compassion: talk and instruction

Compassion (Karuna)


Compassion is the second aspect of heart practices and has the
specific aim of being directed toward pain and suffering. It is
often defined as a movement of the heart when we meet pain and
anguish. Compassion is the ability to both feel and to respond in
a way that reduces or holds the suffering of another. Within the
context of empathy, compassion is our greatest skill. It is also
a skill that we need to learn and maintain through practice. As a
quality of mind, it is only appropriate and necessary during
moments of distress, sadness, pain or suffering. It simply
intends to help or hold that which hurts.


With compassion comes the inability to express hatred. Its
expression is the manifestation of non-violence. It has the
ability to uproot any intention to cause harm. It can be brought
about by seeing and understanding the difficulties and pains of
others while holding a sincere desire to alleviate that
suffering. It succeeds when it causes violence and ill-will to
descend. It fails when it produces depression, grief and sorrow.
Compassion isn’t self-pity or pity for others, but when wrongly
understood it may manifest in this way. It’s ultimately about
feeling one’s own pain and recognizing the pain of others. When
we can see, and experience the suffering of this world that we
are all subject to, we may become kinder and more compassionate
to one another.


This talk was given at a 7 day retreat at New Life Foundation in
Chiang Rai Thailand in the winter of 2016.
http://www.newlifethaifoundation.com/