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compassion
May 2009 
Q&A
The Daily Buddha
Good Day,
Recently a group spent a few days visiting with H.H. Dalai Lama focusing upon what they believe the five most important questions to be considered as we move forward into the new millennium.
The five questions were:
1. How do we address the widening gap between rich and poor?
2. How do we protect the earth?
3. How do we educate our children?
4. How do we help Tibet and other oppressed countries and peoples of the world?
5. How do we bring spirituality (deep caring for one another) through all disciplines of life?
The answer:
The Dalai Lama said all five questions fall under the last one. If we have true compassion in our hearts, our children will be educated wisely, we will care for the earth, those who "have not" will be cared for.
He shared the following simple practice that will increase loving and compassion in the world. He asked everyone in the group to share it with as many people as they can.
The Practice:
1. Spend 5 minutes at the beginning of each day remembering we all want the same things (to be happy and be loved) and we are all connected to one another.
2. Spend 5 minutes -- breathing in - cherishing yourself; and, breathing out - cherishing others. If you think about people you have difficulty cherishing, extend your cherishing to them anyway.
3. During the day extend that attitude to everyone you meet. Practice cherishing the simplest person (clerks, attendants, etc., as well as the "important" people in your life; cherish the people you love and the people you dislike).
4. Continue this practice no matter what happens or what anyone does to you.
These thoughts are very simple, inspiring and helpful. The practice of cherishing can be taken very deep if done wordlessly; allowing yourself to feel the love and appreciation that already exists in your heart.
These simple efforts can change us from the inside and if engaged by enough people could even change the world.
Have a beautiful day and carry this thought - Compassion is the capacity for feeling what it is like to live someone else's life. It is the knowledge that there can never really be any peace and joy for me until there is peace and joy for you as well.
Peace and Love, Jim
Access: Public
A very useful post. Thanks!
Regarding meditation…I wonder if you have any thoughts about the following concern.
Sometimes I get confused about the objective of focusing on the breath. Is it to “distract” our attention from our thoughts? If so…can sports, television, movies, or any number of other distractions serve the same purpose?
Thanks for the comments!
As to your question: The point of focusing on the breath is to develop or train the mind to have the ability to completely focus on one subject or object of contemplation. This is called a “single pointed mind”. The purpose of this training is to allow your meditation practice to move closer to contemplative meditation in which you focus on one subject such as “what it means to be human” (or others) for your entire sitting.
I do not believe TV or other activities will allow you to gain this skill since they tend to cause the mind to become engaged with too many unrelated thoughts. As someone who never believed in meditation (several years ago) I can now attest to it's value. It will change you life in subtle ways at first, then all of a sudden you will find yourself completely changed by it. The point is too stick with it and not expect too much, the insights and knowledge gained during your practice will take hold.
Hope this helps.
Peace and Love, Jim
Thanks!