Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Intention: Cultivating Compassion

 

RIGHT INTENTION Cultivating Compassion

Whatever you intend, whatever you plan, and whatever you have a tendency toward, that will become the basis on which your mind is established. (SN 12.40) Develop meditation on compassion, for when you develop meditation on compassion, any cruelty will be abandoned. (MN 62)  The function of compassion is not bearing the suffering of others. (Vm 9.94)

Reflection

Compassion is an emotion to be felt, a "trembling of the heart in the presence of suffering." Its opposite emotion, cruelty, can come in strong or very subtle forms and involves the mind being unmoved in the face of suffering. Allowing yourself to be moved by compassion (as opposed to merely bearing or tolerating it) has a gradually transformative effect, softening the hardness of the mind and heart and allowing the habit of compassion to develop.

Daily Practice

Open yourself to the suffering of others. There is no shortage of opportunity for doing this in our world. But instead of noticing a tragic event or an injustice and then moving on to something else, allow your attention to linger on the suffering for a while. Open your mind and body to the unpleasantness of attending to suffering. It is okay to feel the pain of suffering without immediately trying to fix it. We learn and grow from this.

Tomorrow: Refraining from Malicious Speech
One week from today: Cultivating Appreciative Joy

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