Compassion Today

Cultivating Compassion Year-Round

How many of us just finished celebrating the holidays with friends, family, and other loved ones? I'm sure most of us have. The spirit of giving, peace on Earth, and joy to the world always is the foremost thought during this season.

Now that the season has concluded, how many of you settled back into your daily routine. Most of us have I'm sure. It is to be expected since the season has concluded and we return to our routine.

But let's reflect upon the past several weeks and their meaning. Has the spirit of love and compassion been replaced with paying the bills that are now starting to arrive from all what was spent in November and December?

I hope not.

Compassion and loving kindness are warming and necessary actions that should be expressed throughout the year. Not just to family and friends, that is expected, but to the stranger on the street as well. Think about a movie you watched where you felt that you would have acted more compassionately towards a certain character. Maybe you would have given the homeless person your extra change, or helped this hitchhiker to their destination on a rainy night. 

Whatever the situation was in the movie, you envision yourself acting more compassionately towards the one in need. It is who we are as a caring beings, we all have this innate desire to help those less fortunate.

Although that is cinema the reality is that these situations do exist in everyday life and we often turn a blind eye towards them, especially once the season of compassionate giving has ended.  

So what has stopped you from offering assistance? If it is the homeless person asking for change at the intersection is it the notion that 'they will use it for drugs or alcohol'? That notion is judgmental and letting go of judgment is a gift we may give ourselves year-round. Judgment is the opposite of compassion and empathy.

So what can we do instead? We embrace the breath and consider our actions with mindful compassion and empathy towards all living beings.

We are all part of the same being, the same universe, the same consciousness. In other words, we are all connected to each other by the very essence of our existence. The same existence.

Compassionate acts towards strangers should not be a grandiose spectacle that says' hey, look at what I just did'. To do so suggests it is not a genuine action but one that is designed to be witness to show others how good of a person you are.

As with most events in life, it is what we would consider the commonplace or mundane occurrences that amount to significant meanings. Simply holding the door, saying thank you, putting the seat down after using the restroom, or letting someone merge in front of you on the road.

When we demonstrate loving kindness to strangers, we reward ourselves with such an immense amount of inner gratitude. Gratitude, and other such positive emotions, help strengthen our spirit. Positive emotions propel us forward on the path of mindfulness and well-being.

I wish you well in the New Year and as always, please feel free to comment below.

Wishing you peace and ease,

Vladimir

Blue Lotus Meditation And Mindfulness Center is a registered 501(c)(3) religious organization.