I know this may shock some, but there is no compassion in the modern world. Yes, there are acts of kindness—many in fact. There are people dedicated to helping others by the millions. But this should not be confused with compassion or karuna.
The ideal way to describe compassion is that when the ultimate essence of one person meets with the ultimate essence of another, compassion is experienced. It is like light coming together with light. But if we have not found the necessary depth within ourselves how might we be compassionate towards others? The honest answer is that we can’t. This doesn’t mean that we can’t be kind or gentle, caring or loving. But this is not compassion.
To the extent that we live shallow lives never once going beyond the level of thoughts, internal dialogue and emotions, it is not possible to be open to compassion or to be compassionate. On this same note, a Buddha can be compassionate for obvious reasons, extending compassion directly to someone’s inmost self who is even unaware of it. And it is true to say that Buddhas are always extending compassion to worldlings (prithagjana) helping them to awaken; to see the absolute and end their suffering
It is only when we move beyond the threshold of thoughts, internal dialogue and our every changing emotions that we begin to sense, for the first time, the compassion of the Buddhas which never stop.
F compassion, it has no bearing on wisdom whatsoever. Amoral wisdom no more partakes out of ANY necessity of compassion, than does the blind need the light of day to go on living.
Posted by: Java Junkie Foghorn Leghorn | November 01, 2012 at 03:04 AM
I'm not sure I follow your reasoning. I think by saying "there is no compassion in the modern world", you are saying that there are no people on earth who have "found the necessary depth within ourselves" to have true compassion. Doesn't this seem a bit cynical, not to mention omniscient?
Posted by: David Ashton | October 31, 2012 at 09:02 PM