Oakville Zen Meditation
From the Latin Com = together, Passionate = suffering.
In Zen, compassion, referred to as karuna, is fundamentally the wish and the behavior that the self and others be free from suffering, and its roots. It is not a feeling of mere sympathy or just empathy, but a deep, intrinsic understanding and action that all beings are interconnected, interrelated, and that the suffering of others is inseparable from our own. If empathy means understanding the feelings of others, compassion goes further, as it implies acting on suffering and its root causes.
This recognition of interdependency leads to a desire to alleviate both our own suffering and that of others. The opposite will be a separate, self-centered, egotistic behavior.
Compassion is Central to Zen philosophy, teaching, and its practice:
Compassion is as central to Zen as mindfulness, meditation (zazen), or the study of koans are.
The Buddha’s original motivation to meditate was compassion: to find a path that would end suffering and its causes for himself and all living beings.
Compassion is personified in Zen by the bodhisattva* Kannon, the “ listener of Cries,” who responds to the suffering of the world. When we open ourselves to others’ pain, we become “another ear” of the bodhisattva, and when we act, we become “an arm” ready to help.
Zen compassion is not passive. It is an automatic and empathetic response that motivates us to help alleviate suffering wherever we encounter it.
Proper insight or Awakening always triggers greater compassion. Why that?
Because Awareness brings 1) the awareness and prevalence of suffering and its causes, 2) the interdependence and interaction between us, and 3) the realization of impermanence; all of them 1-2-3 make ignorance of the suffering of self and others impossible.
Wisdom and Compassion:
In Zen, wisdom (prajna) and compassion are considered a single unit. Why?
1) Wisdom enables us to perceive the true nature of reality, such as impermanence, the interconnectedness of living beings, and the inevitability of suffering.
2) Compassion moves us to act for the benefit of all beings.
Without wisdom, compassion can become misguided; without compassion, wisdom is incomplete.
Compassion as a Path to Inner Peace for oneself and others, and our interconnectivity:
Practicing compassion in Zen is not about ignoring or escaping suffering, which is impossible, but about remaining serene and centered within it through meditation and acceptance.
By engaging with the suffering of self and others, we break down the barriers of ego and separation, fostering unity and equanimity.
Compassion transforms our relationship with others from one of indifference and conflict to one of harmony. It is allowing us to respond to life’s challenges with serenity and grace.
How to cultivate compassion:
Zen is offering 4 practices to cultivate compassion:
1 Mindfulness: Being mindfully aware of our own and others’ suffering, and its causes, and choosing a compassionate, appropriate response to help.
2 Practicing loving-kindness (metta) helps generate and expand compassion for oneself and others
through listening, helping /caring /advising, or simply just being present.
3 Reflection on Interdependence: Recognizing the shared human experience and our interconnection and impermanence among all living beings fosters empathy and compassion.
4 Finally, Self-Compassion:
Zen also emphasizes the importance of self-compassion by being kind and understanding toward oneself in moments of suffering. This is not narcissistic self-indulgence, but an essential part of the path, as it enables us to extend genuine compassion to others. Thanks
*Boddhisattva = an Awakened one or striving to become one.
