A couple of days ago I read a comment on a Facebook post by a woman who said that she made a point of never leaving home until she was in a state of mind to practice kindness. This humbling motivation was, however, quickly followed by a startling and dismaying statement. As a result, she said:
Thank you David for this reminder.I could write for days on this subject.
I remember a time when it seemed the homeless population where I lived was growing larger every week and many were on corners with dogs by their sides. For me personally to cross paths with people with pups asking for help was a no brainer having having dedicated my life to animal compassion so to help with dog food, water and lunch I carried supplies with me just in case and got to know many men and their dogs by name over many months.,
One man in particular had 3 dogs tied together by rope and asked me if I could buy him collars and leashes…Because I could, I did , but that was my choice and on that day I realized it was my destiny to help possibly more than homelessness was his!
For me it was an act of love that He asked me and that small exchange sent my heart soaring . I felt from that point on ,anytime I could help a homeless person even in the smallest of ways was a gift from God….and it was no mistake that our paths crossed….sometimes a situation or person we don’t know is a teacher who allows us to grow in LOVE and open our hearts even more than we thought possible. That’s power🌹That’s compassion 🌹.And a beautiful gift! 🌹
Dear David, Thank you for this important post. It is easy to forget to apply discerning wisdom and recognize ones own abilities while doing an act of compassion. Here conscientousness, mindfulness and introspection are of utmost importance.
I often encounter people with this assumption as well.
I tell them that, yes we are walking the path of wisdom & compassion, but that includes compassion for YOURSELF. We need to remember that we deserve the same love and care that we want to bring others. This reminds us to not be taken advantage of. Sometimes we have to manifest the wrathful deity just like Avalokiteshvara.
An image that speaks to this dynamic…Buddha is often depicted with an extended open palm, signalling compassion AND a raised hand in a position that in the west signals “stop.”
Dearest David, thanks for sharing your knowledge, experience and wisdom! I really do not want to be a doormat, but not always easy to have the three factors.
Omgoodness this is so well put. I have always told my kids and clients (and advising staff as a managing partner of a public accounting firm) that when we are being kind, we also need to include ourselves in that. We are people too! Compassion and kindness where we don't consider the outcome for ourselves is not compassionate or kind! (Ps. As a parent it was always important to point out that Moms, Dads, and other authority figures are people, too. Kids forget that all too easily.)
It made so much sense to me that when our only rule in the house was to be kind that included all forms of self-care and respectful treatment of all beings, fuzzy and adult included, in the house. It was also a great exercise for me as a parent to discern which rules fell into the "being kind" (our simpler term for compassionate) and which were me overstepping as a parent.
Thanks for the reminder. The discernment that goes along with compassion is such an important reminder! Meditating on it now. 🤔❤️
Thank you for this beautifully written and inspirational message you have sent. Practice takes the courage and we carry that with us to not be a doormat but to be discretional and compassionate. Thank you David for your teaching touch. ❤️
Thanks for your post. I totally get and appreciate the main points you are raising with today's message about the need for compassion to always be accompanied by wisdom and power. However, I would like to ask you to do a fuller explanation of that beautiful Tibetan thangka you used to illustrate the theme of your post.
You explained that "In the centre is the orange-coloured Manjushri, Buddha of Wisdom. To his right, the white-coloured Chenrezig, Buddha of Compassion, and to his left, Vajrapani, Buddha of Power. What these Buddhas, often presented in this particular combination, illuminate is that for compassion to be effective, it must be combined with wisdom and power. "
It is clear to me from the imagery that since Manjushri is holding a lotus flower in his left hand and a sword in his right that he (as wisdom) is drawing from both Chenrezig's compassion and Vajrapani's power. So far, so good in terms of the imagery of this wonderful painting. But what is that small figure at the center of the piece right below Manjushri's feet and between Chenrezig and Vajrapani? It has no face, yet it clearly is at the center of what this thangka is trying to tell us. Is it another representation of a lotus (and therefore representative of this practice, which like the lotus has to grow out of the mud and muck of responding compassionately to the suffering of others)? Or does it represent something else? Given its central positioning in this painting, I feel like I'm not understanding the complete iconography of this piece if I don't have a clearer understanding of what that central figure represents. Hoping you can elaborate on what your understanding is of that mysterious small central figure and how it relates to the main theme of your post. Many thanks!!
Thank you, David. This resonates with me on many levels. I have been a doormat in my life. I’m learning to free myself from this tendency. It just causes more suffering, and in my case my illness flares. So I’m recognizing it doesn’t serve me, or others. You’ve explained this in a way that I can really understand and put into practice. Compassion is a responsibility and it needs to be balanced with wisdom and power. I am ever grateful for your teachings. Many blessings to all beings.
Thank you David for this reminder.I could write for days on this subject.
I remember a time when it seemed the homeless population where I lived was growing larger every week and many were on corners with dogs by their sides. For me personally to cross paths with people with pups asking for help was a no brainer having having dedicated my life to animal compassion so to help with dog food, water and lunch I carried supplies with me just in case and got to know many men and their dogs by name over many months.,
One man in particular had 3 dogs tied together by rope and asked me if I could buy him collars and leashes…Because I could, I did , but that was my choice and on that day I realized it was my destiny to help possibly more than homelessness was his!
For me it was an act of love that He asked me and that small exchange sent my heart soaring . I felt from that point on ,anytime I could help a homeless person even in the smallest of ways was a gift from God….and it was no mistake that our paths crossed….sometimes a situation or person we don’t know is a teacher who allows us to grow in LOVE and open our hearts even more than we thought possible. That’s power🌹That’s compassion 🌹.And a beautiful gift! 🌹
I think we often forget that our first act of compassion should be to ourself.
Thank you for your latest post about compassion. It reminds us to consider our motivation when donating time or money.
Dear David, Thank you for this important post. It is easy to forget to apply discerning wisdom and recognize ones own abilities while doing an act of compassion. Here conscientousness, mindfulness and introspection are of utmost importance.
Wonderful post by David.
https://davidmichie.substack.com/p/must-you-be-a-doormat-to-practice
I often encounter people with this assumption as well.
I tell them that, yes we are walking the path of wisdom & compassion, but that includes compassion for YOURSELF. We need to remember that we deserve the same love and care that we want to bring others. This reminds us to not be taken advantage of. Sometimes we have to manifest the wrathful deity just like Avalokiteshvara.
An image that speaks to this dynamic…Buddha is often depicted with an extended open palm, signalling compassion AND a raised hand in a position that in the west signals “stop.”
Comentarios a David 2024-03
Dearest David, thanks for sharing your knowledge, experience and wisdom! I really do not want to be a doormat, but not always easy to have the three factors.
I loved the images you shared in your post.
Thanks so much.
Rossy Cortes
Mexico
Omgoodness this is so well put. I have always told my kids and clients (and advising staff as a managing partner of a public accounting firm) that when we are being kind, we also need to include ourselves in that. We are people too! Compassion and kindness where we don't consider the outcome for ourselves is not compassionate or kind! (Ps. As a parent it was always important to point out that Moms, Dads, and other authority figures are people, too. Kids forget that all too easily.)
It made so much sense to me that when our only rule in the house was to be kind that included all forms of self-care and respectful treatment of all beings, fuzzy and adult included, in the house. It was also a great exercise for me as a parent to discern which rules fell into the "being kind" (our simpler term for compassionate) and which were me overstepping as a parent.
Thanks for the reminder. The discernment that goes along with compassion is such an important reminder! Meditating on it now. 🤔❤️
Thank you for this beautifully written and inspirational message you have sent. Practice takes the courage and we carry that with us to not be a doormat but to be discretional and compassionate. Thank you David for your teaching touch. ❤️
Dear David,
Thanks for your post. I totally get and appreciate the main points you are raising with today's message about the need for compassion to always be accompanied by wisdom and power. However, I would like to ask you to do a fuller explanation of that beautiful Tibetan thangka you used to illustrate the theme of your post.
You explained that "In the centre is the orange-coloured Manjushri, Buddha of Wisdom. To his right, the white-coloured Chenrezig, Buddha of Compassion, and to his left, Vajrapani, Buddha of Power. What these Buddhas, often presented in this particular combination, illuminate is that for compassion to be effective, it must be combined with wisdom and power. "
It is clear to me from the imagery that since Manjushri is holding a lotus flower in his left hand and a sword in his right that he (as wisdom) is drawing from both Chenrezig's compassion and Vajrapani's power. So far, so good in terms of the imagery of this wonderful painting. But what is that small figure at the center of the piece right below Manjushri's feet and between Chenrezig and Vajrapani? It has no face, yet it clearly is at the center of what this thangka is trying to tell us. Is it another representation of a lotus (and therefore representative of this practice, which like the lotus has to grow out of the mud and muck of responding compassionately to the suffering of others)? Or does it represent something else? Given its central positioning in this painting, I feel like I'm not understanding the complete iconography of this piece if I don't have a clearer understanding of what that central figure represents. Hoping you can elaborate on what your understanding is of that mysterious small central figure and how it relates to the main theme of your post. Many thanks!!
Thanks David 🙏🏻
Thank you, David. This resonates with me on many levels. I have been a doormat in my life. I’m learning to free myself from this tendency. It just causes more suffering, and in my case my illness flares. So I’m recognizing it doesn’t serve me, or others. You’ve explained this in a way that I can really understand and put into practice. Compassion is a responsibility and it needs to be balanced with wisdom and power. I am ever grateful for your teachings. Many blessings to all beings.
You, Dear David, ace the wisdom piece/peace! XO
So true