This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

Compassion: A Way To Peace For All

We all can't be Mother Theresa, but we can be people of compassion

We all appreciate and seek truth, beauty, justice, love and peace in our world in different ways.  When we see a beautiful painting by Monet or a sculpture of Michelangelo, we are inspired somehow to dream and reach for the stars.  If we hear a story about how Mother Theresa lovingly picked up thousands of people from the gutter to give them dignity in their last days on earth or how Ghandi changed the country of India through self-sacrifice, fasting and teaching, we are moved to tears.  It is a common human characteristic to want the best for others, for our world and we look for people who will lead us to reach our potential.  

In this blog I wanted to touch on the word 'compassion' and how it moves the heart to go beyond what it thought it could.  The Dalai Lama says it well in my opinion, when he states, "If you want others to be happy, practice compassion.  If you want to be happy, practice compassion."  He believes compassion is the key to the world's happiness.  I agree.

In our fast-paced world with all of its demands and deadlines, it is often impossible to recognize compassion, but if we slow down a bit, it is there to be found.  You may be walking down Fifth Avenue in NYC and see a woman or man poorly dressed.  Many people walk by them in a hurry, while a few will step up and hand them a few coins or dollars. Those people who gave them money are often criticized because of the possibility that the person will buy alcohol or drugs, or is a fraud, but from my view I see compassion had moved the heart of the person to care in that moment and the person acted in the only way he/she was able to act.  We all agree there are greater structural reforms needed for housing, education, and employment, but they can't be solved on the street immediately.  A bit of charity can help a person in the short-term.  

Find out what's happening in Westhampton-Hampton Bayswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

There are stories of people dying right in the middle of rush hour and no one notices, such as in January 2006 on the NYC subway.  A man named Reilly*, who was a Postal Service employee, worked a 4 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. shift as a mail handler in Manhattan.  He lived in Brooklyn, and was on the train more than six hours before anyone noticed he had died.  Or the death in November of 2008 where a Queens resident, Jdimytai Damour**, was killed in a stampede on Black Friday at a Wal-Mart in Valley Stream. (see links below)  Stories of people dying in the midst of crowded places, or people who are in a hurry or self-absorbed, are sad stories which illustrate a lack of compassion.  It was happening all over Calcutta, India, when Mother Theresa was alive where people had a myriad of feelings about her work as she knelt down to pick up a dying soul on the ground.  Some were scandalized because she was a nun out on the street alone, some were angry because she was interfering with the Hindu view of dying, some were inspired to follow and help her, while others were imprisoned in their class structure to remove themselves from the "untouchables." Compassion isn't pretty.  It oftentimes evokes disgust or anger.  Prejudices come to the surface to suppress any compassion.  

Compassion is, to me, so pure and beautiful.  It brings out the best of us.  We can't all be Mother Theresa working in India, but we can be just as compassionate to our closest companions, waitstaff, gas attendants, store clerks, or neighbors. There is something to be said about the initiative a person takes to reach out in the face of criticism and judgment.  How often has a person said to you that people on the street are useless or lazy or mentioned that immigrants are terrorists just trying to burden our social services?  These are people who don't have what they need to get their lives in order.  There are economic, psychological and educational imbalances that need our close attention and creative help.  Our world is changing and people are migrating where they can begin a new life for their families.  They seek safety, sustainability and support.  If you are thinking that I have pollyanna views and am hopelessly ignorant to what really needs our attention, I accept your criticism, and ask you to look into your heart to decide how best to help our world grow in compassion.  

Find out what's happening in Westhampton-Hampton Bayswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

We see our own country going through many changes with border problems, economic slowdowns, rising unemployment, and we wonder what will happen to us. Those who fought for our independence and safety are concerned even more as they watch the threats around the world.  In the New Testament there is a line I often reflect on: "Fear is useless.  What is needed is trust." (Gospel of Mark 5:36) You may ask, "Trust in what?"  I believe we need to trust in the spirit of compassion that each of us have within us.  This spirit of compassion is what drives us to seek unity, hope, peace, and brother/sisterhood.  Without it, we will be lost in the turmoil. Compassion gives us focus and direction to seek what is good for all and brings to our minds and hearts the truth, beauty, justice, love and peace we all seek.  In my work these past nine years at Sobornost For The World Foundation, where we try to bring hope and dignity through fair trade and support for orphans, it never ceases to amaze me how many compassionate people there are right here on Long Island.

* Reilly:  http://www.clickorlando.com/news/6275952/detail.html

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?