| Compassion is a rarely used concept in western | | | | arrogant, proud, miserly, selfish, mean- you name it- to |
| cultures. Native Americans and Eastern faiths practice | | | | have compassion and to care for these people, |
| compassion as a way of life versus invoking | | | | means not to run from the pain of finding these things |
| compassion as it is deemed appropriate to apply at | | | | in ourselves." |
| the moment. | | | | Everyone invokes compassion when someone is hurt |
| Before the invasion of their homeland, Native | | | | or sick. But, generally when someone learns about |
| Americans practiced compassion for all living things, | | | | something that is unfair, more often than not, the |
| plants, animals, creatures, birds, fish, wind, rain, snow | | | | majority of western cultures react with anger, |
| and sleet, Mother Earth, Father Son and Grandmother | | | | resentment, retaliation and seek revenge. |
| Moon. Today Native Americans struggle to hold onto | | | | Instead of hurt, anger, resentment and seeking |
| their lifestyle, including language and the meager land | | | | revenge you can choose to generate compassion. |
| the invaders allotted to them. | | | | You can choose compassion in spite of not |
| The Dalai Lama promotes a practice called, generating | | | | understanding the complete story, or even though you |
| compassion, bodhichitta. It is part of spiritual practice to | | | | do not agree with the situation. You can generate |
| choose compassion versus power over and practicing | | | | compassion that is beyond understanding and beyond |
| compassion versus invoking compassion as the | | | | reason. |
| situation deems. | | | | When you come from a place of compassion you |
| Pema Chodron (aka Deirdre Blomfield-Brown) an | | | | come from a heart that welcomes each person as |
| ordained Buddhist nun in Tibetan Vajrayana tradition is | | | | you would want to be welcomed. You provide a safe |
| a teacher in the linage of Chogyam Trungpa. Her goal | | | | place inside yourself for your soul to make its home. |
| is achieving the ability to apply Buddhist teachings in | | | | As Pema Chodron eloquently stated, 'In order to have |
| everyday life. She explains her belief on compassion, | | | | compassion for others, we have to have compassion |
| thusly, "In order to have compassion for others, we | | | | for ourselves. Show yourself compassion, and share |
| have to have compassion for ourselves. In particular, to | | | | your compassion with others. |
| care about other people who are fearful, angry, | | | | I invite you to generate compassion in your life as you |
| jealous, overpowered by addictions of all kinds, | | | | go through your day. |