the practical nature of Compassion and Selflessness

by awareness ~ June 11, 2008

Our practice of meditation, self inquiry and inner work must be grounded in true Compassion.

Ultimately selflessness is the most practical attitude.

It derives the most benefit or happiness for the individual. One could say it is the pinnacle of self-interest!

Paradoxically, the most practically self interested person, the one most successful at achieving his heart’s desire, has no-self, no ego at all.

Why is this so. If I see the truth of myself, if I “know myself” then recognize my neighbor as myself.
Then I will treat my neighbor as I would like to be treated, with genuine kindness. My neighbor will respond in kind and I will be treated with kindness as well. Because in that person true compassion arises spontaneously.

Who can say why this happens? But I can assure you, it does! You can test it for yourself! Treat others with kindness, and you will be mazed at the results.

The boundless Compassion that means the recognition or discovery that one is in fact connected with all of life.

It is self arising. Only when one has performed Mental Hygiene, and scraped the encrusted calcification and tartar of habit away from the soul, will the beauty, the majesty and inspiration of true Compassion arise, effulgent, spontaneous.

True compassion takes no effort. It is our true nature.
A year after I wrote this original posting, I discovered the Mahamudra teachings were speaking of unbearable compassion.

The term is unbearable compassion highly accurate! The true experience of compassion encompasses a deep empathy for the suffering of all beings.