I know that when another’s compassion touches me, it can change my life, letting me see things in a new way, giving me hope and new energy to act as I could not before. I know that my compassion can warm others, and when it does it delights me.
I know that compassion, when not life-changing, can change my day: when another driver lets me pull out, I find myself behaving more courteously to others, and imagine a chain reaction of courtesy spreading across the city’s roads. When tempted to react to another driver’s discourtesy, compassion saves me from that: he is rushing, and perhaps his wife’s waters have broken; he is slow, and does not know where he is, and needs to take care to find the way.
I know that these small experiences and understandings of a moment’s compassion can help me give and receive compassion better. I take them into my heart, they warm me and help me value myself. I learn from them, and improve my practice, and see it benefits me.
I know that when I work with another compassion between us oils the wheels so that we work together more happily and more productively.
I know that when I behave altruistically, I gain joy.
I know that I feel compassion when I hear of people suffering on another continent, then may feel powerless. It is too much. There is nothing I can do, so I must take comfort from the acts I can perform in my own community. And I know that so many of us feel that same compassion, and that some blessed individuals can channel and direct this compassion so that it changes others’ lives: with that leadership we can act together and improve the conditions of clothing workers in Bangladesh or chickens laying eggs in barns.
I know that every thought or act of compassion, however small, has value for giver and receiver.
I know that people are naturally compassionate. We have mirror neurons in our brains which make us feel what another feels. I know that this is a great gift, because it binds us together and helps us to work together and when we are together we are so powerful.
I know that perfect love drives out all fear. I know God Who is Love.
I am delighted to be part of 1000 voices speak for compassion. This page introduces it. Here is the link to all the posts. Join us!
And the power of knowledge crowns compassion
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Indeed. It has to be learned. George Eliot has the image of walking along an easy road, picking up palm branches-
oh, search for it-
That is the path we all like when we set out on our abandonment of egoism- the path of martyrdom and endurance, where the palm branches grow, rather than the steep highway of tolerance, just allowance and self-blame, where there are no leafy honours to be gathered and worn.
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Yes Clare. Kindness and compassion truly spread from one to another and it can only be a wave of compassion which can get rid of the intolerance around us.
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Welcome, and thank you for commenting. 1000speak is a wonderful way for getting to know lovely people.
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Imagining a chain reaction of courtesy spreading across the city’s roads … Oooh if that happened everywhere the world would be a much better place!
I love this – small acts grow and spread out and make a difference. You never know who you will impact.
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