Mind in Comfort and Ease: The Vision of Enlightenment in the Great Perfection by Lama The Dalai

Author:Lama, The Dalai [Lama, The Dalai]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
ISBN: 9780861717101
Publisher: Perseus Books Group
Published: 2012-06-25T03:00:00+00:00

THE ROOTS OF COMPASSION

Whether or not we can arouse bodhichitta—and how powerful it will be—fundamentally depends upon our compassion. All of us have compassion to a certain extent. For example, whenever we think of someone suffering, we are naturally moved by a feeling of compassion and wish for that person to be free from pain or anguish. This seems to be a fundamental experience. But now we take this compassion that we already possess and expand it, until it is without any bias or restriction and becomes a courageous sort of compassion—infused with “an extraordinary altruistic resolve” that you yourself can and will free all beings from suffering and guide them toward enlightenment. That is what is meant by great compassion. It is the source and the root of bodhichitta.

And so we are actually taking our natural capacity for empathy—that love and affection we all feel for one another—combining it with wisdom, and progressively increasing it. However, before we can develop the compassionate desire to free others from suffering, first we need to identify what suffering is, from our own perspective. Then, by extension, we can feel empathy for others who are going through suffering, whatever it might be. These two steps are essential.

Earlier we discussed human life with its freedoms and advantages, death and impermanence, the sufferings of samsara, and karma, the cause and effects of our actions. Contemplations such as these show us clearly that the very nature of our current experience is one of suffering. The root of our suffering lies in the way we fall under the domination of our negative emotions. You might think, Well, that’s due to external circumstances, isn’t it? But the cause of the trouble is not outside us, it is within. The afflictions—the disturbing emotions—in our own minds are our true enemies, and they must be recognized as such. We have to understand just how dangerous these negative emotions are and how imperative it is that we free ourselves from their grip.

There are said to be two ways to develop a deep sense of empathy toward a person who is suffering. The first depends upon seeing all sentient beings as extremely close and dear. We think about the individuals who have been the kindest to us in this life—it could be our parents or very possibly our mother. We appreciate the depths of kindness this person has shown us and then consider that all limitless sentient beings are as kind as this one person. On the basis of seeing everyone as dear and close to us, empathy is developed, to the extent that we cannot bear others to suffer.

The second way to develop this empathy is to reflect on and compare the damaging effects of a constantly self-centered view with the benefits of continually having the welfare of others at heart, even cherishing them more than ourselves.

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