The Dharma of Compassion

The entire purpose of our spiritual practice is to develop mindfulness and to generate compassion. These give rise to wisdom and awakening. If our sadhana is not filled with awareness of the immense suffering in the world… if we are not aware that children are going to dying of hunger and disease… that animals are being tortured and slaughtered for selfish consumption… that people are being marginalised, disparaged and attacked… then our practice is without merit. Spiritual practice is the practice of mindfulness and engaged awareness. If mindfulness and compassion are not part of the practice, then it is escapism and egotism. It is showmanship and puffery.

Don’t tell me about the miraculous signs you invoke with your pujas, your Phowas, your mantras or your sadhana. Show me the beings you’ve fed, clothed, comforted, protected and cared for.

Act as though every action is multiplied ten million times everyday. Give with a heart that is overflowing. Follow the breath, and you will always find mindfulness and compassion there, in the moment.

Namasté

khenpo gurudas sunyatananda

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“Chenrezig, Treasure of Objectless Compassion;
Manjushri, Lord of Stainless Wisdom;
Vajrapani, Destroyer of all adversarial forces;
O Je Tsong Khapa – Losang Drakpa —
Crown Jewel of the Sages of the Land of Snows,
Humbly at Your Lotus Feet I ask your blessing.”

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Copyright ©2008, Khenpo Gurudas Sunyatananda (The Most Reverend Dr. F. Francis-Maria G. Salvato, M.Sc., O.C.). All rights reserved. This material may be reproduced, blogged, quoted or distributed, provided the entire copyright including contact information remain intact. It may NOT be altered in any way, without express written permission.