International Lifestyle Magazine Issue 51 | Page 99

“All paths are the same.” Says Don Juan “They lead nowhere…
The only question is: Does this path have a heart? If it does, then
it is a good path. If it doesn’t, then it is of no use.” In fact, as
we delve more deeply into this idea of compassion, or “lovingkindness” as Buddhists like to call it, it becomes clear that why
you do your spiritual practice is more important than how or what
you practice. After some time, as we journey further, a shift of
perspective occurs. This change happens when we begin to
understand the inter-connectedness and relatedness of all things.
At this point everything we do starts to be for the benefit of all
beings, rather than solely for our own welfare. This is what true
love really means.
But what exactly is ‘compassion’? Simply put, it can be described
as the genuine desire to ease the suffering of all beings, whether
they be plant, insect, animal, human or spirit. It is the openness
of heart that fills us with the wish that we never be the cause of
another’s pain, and instead that all beings be happy, peaceful
and be free from suffering. That brings us to the fundamental point
of all this; the thing most difficult to grasp and most important to
understand: it´s about compassion for all, and that means all,
omitting none, no matter what they’ve done or who or what they
are. Compassion is a totally open field, all encompassing. It is
absolutely, completely and totally non-judgemental.
Now, just to be clear, being compassionate doesn’t have
anything to do with being a kind of loved-up zombie, expending
all your energy giving away feelings of love & compassion while
the whole world gets to walk all over you. Instead compassion is
utterly meaningless without its inseparable counterpart, wisdom.
In fact, it is often said that true compassion is wisdom in action.
But before you jump off your seat acting all crazy in the name of
compassion, here’s a useful little guideline from the Dalai Lama:
“be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.” Keep these
words forever in your heart, and you will never go astray. To the
intelligent, sophisticated and highly complex thinking mind, this
may seem far too simplistic a way to integrate spirituality into
everyday life. But, let’s never underestimate the tremendous
reserve of power and strength inherent in small, simple and regular
acts of kindness and compassion.

“be kind whenever possible. It is always
possible.” Keep these words forever in your
heart, and you will never go astray...

www.internationallifestylemagazine.com