Compassionate Living

Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients,  Nov, 2001  by Irene Alleger

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One of the books I picked up recently from our "review pile," titled Compassionate Living for Healing, Wholeness, and Harmony, happened to coincide with the Dalai Lama's visit to the Northwest. I heard his Holiness say in his disingenious way, "Peace is the manifestation of compassionate living."

Buddhists see peace differently than Westerners; their peace resides in the heart of the non-violent person. One must be non-violent to be compassionate. Unfortunately, the violence in our world seems to grow as we become more technological, less community-oriented, and more stressed. The use of "deadly force" by the police is an everyday occurence now in the US, whether the "perp" is a traffic violator or a clearly psychotic individual. The use of guns to settle minor disagreements, and in the hands of the mentally-ill is wreaking havoc. It has led to putting children in prison for life (for the sins of the fathers?). Instead of getting rid of the guns, we get rid of the kids who use them "inappropriately" And in our "tough on crime stance, we put crack-addicted mothers in prison for being illiterate, poor, and addicted. In the US those who are less fortunate, those with mental illness, those on the fringes of society, are often now "disposed of' by incarceration. Is this our new national outreach program - prison?

Not so coincidently, in the state of Idaho recently, the authorities put a mentally ill woman in jail, allegedly for not taking care of her children. I say not coincidence because these things are all connected, in the synergy of the Universe, including the recent execution of our own home-grown terrorist, which questions again the moral right of the government to put citizens to death.

Joanne Stepaniak, in her book on Compassionate Living says "Living without compassion is dangerous, for ourselves as individuals and for our world at large.... It is the secret ingredient to solving every disagreement and redeeming any relationship."

Stepaniak says we need to "heal the way we think - convert our damaging thought patterns into healthful ones. Many of our perceptions are shaped by commerce (commercials) and the worldview indoctrinated into us as children. Unfortunately, for many people, disapproval is taught at an early age, and leads to self-hatred and negative feelings towards others. Peace between nations depends on the individual being "at peace with oneself," and therefore, with the world. Violence cannot exist in a peaceful heart.

In order to bring compassion into our lives, the author says, we must become aware of our daily practices, including our thoughts, our attitudes, and how we treat ourselves and others.... "Utilizing techniques to engage compassion is not about changing the essence of who you are. Rather, it is like peeling an onion, finding your soft and gentle heart at the center, and realizing it has been there all along."

Gratitude and generosity arise with compassion and are inherent in the Buddhist teachings. The Dalai Lama seems almost childlike to Westerners; he is so open. There is no dichotomy between what he says and what he does - no ego to get in the way. Nor are gratitude and generosity separate - the minute one feels gratitude, there is also generosity.

The author of Compassionate Living says because we do not know how many people it would take to establish compassionate living as a cultural standard...each one of us is vitally significant... "Positive and lasting cultural change will not evolve through intellectual exercises because core values are never transformed by data. Compassion is an affair of the heart."

It may also not be coincidental that heart disease is endemic in the US (heartless - without compassion). If we continue to punish "by the book" and turn away from those in need of our help, we risk at the very least, becoming less than human, and at worst, spiritually dead.

The Dalai Lama's words are a good place to begin: "Peace is the manifestation of compassionate living."

Peace within; peace without.

Source: Compassionate Living for Healing, Wholeness & Harmony by Joanne Stepaniak

COPYRIGHT 2001 The Townsend Letter Group
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning