Everyday Peace – Peace Everyday: Compassion

 

Last week during a very quick and hectic trip to the mainland, I stopped at a serene and beautiful Buddhist Temple for an hour of peace and reflection.  I was intrigued with a very large carved statue of the Avalokitesvara Bodisattiva …the Bodisattiva (enlightened being) of compassion. 

The “aura” surrounding this figure had ten thousand hands and ten thousand eyes and the tiniest of the hands appeared like feathers from a distance.  In each small hand, an eye was placed in the middle of the palm. In each of the larger hands the Bodisattiva holds an object such as a lotus blossom or a weapon.  The eyes, the hands and the objects he holds are symbolic of watching over humanity and protecting us from harm.  

I love the idea of a “thousand eyes and and a thousand hands” watching over and caring for me with loving compassion!

" Each of us in our own way can try to spread compassion into people’s hearts. Western civilizations these days place great importance on filling the human “brain” with knowledge, but no one seems to care about filling the human “heart” with compassion.  This is the real role of religion." 

Dalai Lama

It’s easy to be compassionate with the loveable of the world but it’s the unloveable who truly need our compassion…those who are acting out of emotional pain…the prickly ones who seem to want to push us away or even worse, push our buttons!   It’s not always easy but always worth the effort.

I was once given (by a very wise friend) a quick and easy  phrase that has helped me to deal with people who bring up feelings of hurt or anger.  When I find myself reacting internally in a negative way, I say to myself:

Thank  you (name) for showing me a part of myself that needs healing.

When I say this, I find myself feeling sincerely grateful for the experience rather than hurt or angry.  I see it as a gift and an opportunity to look within and disengage my own issues that want to react. It dissolves the emotions of victimization and puts the situation in a new and more compassionate perspective.

Compassion brings us to a stop, and for a moment we rise above ourselves.

Mason Cooley

May compassion be with you, holding you close when you are hurt or alone -- when there is rain in your heart. And may you be the warm hands and the warm eyes of compassion for your friends when they reach out to you in need.

Thanks so much for visiting,

Play well and be kind to one another.

Comments

[Olivia]

thank you for sharing so much kindness with us Kate, via words and pictures and quotes and more...Love, O

[Graciel @ Evenstar Art]

This post is utterly gorgeous, Kate. My goal is more compassion for myself, thereby making it easier to offer compassion outward. I resonate with so much Buddhism, but stop short because there is not a belief in God. I think to myself, how else could butterfly wings have been invented?

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your loving and supportive comments during my grand adventure. Yes, I love being a late bloomer and I do feel it will only keep getting better, despite the whacky hormones! You are such a treasure.

Are you coming to Toronto for an reason in 2010???

Love and blessings,
Graciel

[charlane]

beautiful and wise words. i've been holding onto an anger and this started me to thinking about the lesson from the pain instead of the anger.

[lucy]

so very lovely, kate. thank you!

[Tess]

Extraordinary image, and such beautiful words. It is indeed more difficult to find the unloveable loveable.

[martie]

What a wonderful treat to give yourself! I haven't been in a Buddhist temple since leaving Japan but your post reminded me of those times. Feelings of calm and peace were never so great - and I always left feeling restored. Your temple sounds wonderful and you are lucky to have one so close. Compassion is something most of us should practice more often - me included!

[Shannon]

I love your practice:
"Thank you (name) for showing me a part of myself that needs healing."
I am going to write that down and practice it myself.
Beautifully wise post!
Thank you for sharing it!
Shannon

[Cara]

A nice reminder that it's not always personal. And that we can learn something important from everything.