The Dhamma of Compassion

The Dhamma of Compassion:

Lotus Flower

Lotus Flower

Compassion is defined as “sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others.”

In Buddhism we are taught to practice engendering compassion for ALL sentient beings. This means compassion for ants and slugs, as well as your family and friends. Even your greatest rivals, dictators, Trump and Blare, deserve our compassion. They all suffer as we do. They, especially animals and the likes of Trump and Blare, are ignorant of the Dhamma, they are ignorant of the effects their actions have, they are ignorant of the suffering they cause to other sentient beings. Even Theresa May deserves compassion although she is trying to destroy the NHS. She is causing untold suffering to millions, yet she is totally ignorant of the kammic repercussions she can expect; therefore she deserves our compassion.

Compassion can also mean saying ‘no’ to someone. It does not mean we have to bend over backwards to give everything we can to someone. Sometimes the greatest love you can show an individual is the ability to say ‘no more’. It hands responsibility for their predicament back into their own hands and helps make them a stronger and more responsible individual. Saying ‘no’ is not a bad thing, in the right context.

Many people have difficulty with the concept of universal compassion, believing that certain individuls do not deserve it, but this is a fallacy. We have all already been where those individuals are now in past lives. We have, and still do, deserve compassion. It is our universal ignorance of the Dhamma, and the kammic repercussions, that almost demands compassion should be shown. Care for our fellow-man and all other sentient beings is a must, no matter what level they are at, tramp or king, slug or elephant. We all deserve compassion.

Namaste

Free Dhamma

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Ajahn Chah

Ajahn Chah

Free Dhamma is the best Dhamma, especially when it is good Dhamma and I cannot express my gratitude enough for the service that Forest Sangha Publications does for the Thai Forest tradition in particular, and the Buddhist faith in general. They are a publishing house that produces copious numbers of books and pamphlets on the Thai Forest tradition of the Ven. Ajahn Chah and his disciples. The quality and amount of information available is staggering considering you do not have to pay a penny for any of it. They obviously accept donations but they are not expected nor demanded.

Many of Ajahn Chah’s disciples have produced documents that can be ordered for free as well as translations of many of Ajahn Chah’s own teachings. I highly recommend you spend some time going through the library of available documents and ordering a few. I think they have a limit of three books per month, but there is nothing stopping you from ordering more once your first order arrives.

The series of books that form a collection of talks and teachings by Luang Por Sumedho are of particular interest as they cover the Venerable Ajahn’s career from meeting Ajahn Chah, to his retirement a couple of years ago.

Amaravati Monastery and Abhayagiri Monastery are the main monasteries that the monks and nuns come from who have contributed to the material that is available, but there are contributions from others at satellite monasteries. Whichever author you go for, I am sure you will be in for a treat. This is all Dhamma at it’s best, and it is aimed at the lay disciple primarily, so you do not need a PhD in Buddhist philosophy to understand what they are on about.

Please visit, please order and please donate. Your path to liberation will be made just that bit easier if you do.

May you find peace.

Depression

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Depression

Depression

Depression… few speak of it and even fewer know anything about it. For me, Buddhism is the answer. The Buddha explains how the mind works and why it works the way it does. Depression can destroy your life and the lives of those closest to you yet the Buddha has the answers for those who care to investigate.

Admitting you have depression is the first, and most important step you must take. It is a difficult one to be sure. Admitting you need help is incredibly difficult, maybe even more so if you are male. Admitting that your mind is messed up and out of control is even more intimidating. Being prescribed antidepressants and antipsychotics can be frightening, especially when you realise you may be on them for years. But the Buddha does have the answers, and the meditation practices he taught definitely have tangible benefits. I know… I use them. Continue reading