Compassion Revisited: The Force of Love is the Force of Total Revolution
"Compassion is a spontaneous movement of
wholeness. It is not a studied decision to help the poor, to be kind to
the unfortunate. Compassion has a tremendous momentum that naturally,
choicelessly moves us to worthy action. It has the force of
intelligence, creativity, and the strength of love. Compassion cannot
be cultivated; it derives neither from intellectual conviction nor from
emotional reaction. It is simply there when the wholeness of life
becomes a fact that is truly lived.
Compassion does not manifest itself when we live on the surface of existence, when we try to piece together a comfortable life
out of easily available fragments. Compassion requires a plunge to the
depths of life—where oneness is reality and divisions merely an
illusion. If we dwell at the superficial layers of being, we'll be
overly conscious of the apparent differences in human beings on the
physical and mental level, and of the superficial difference in
cultures and behavior. If we penetrate to the essentials, however, we
will discover that there is nothing fundamental that differentiates any
human being from another, or any human being from any other living
creature. All are manifestations of life, created with the same life
principles and nurtured by the same life-support systems. Oneness is
absolute reality; differentiation has only transitory, relative
reality." ~~ Vimala Thakar
Excerpted from Awakening to Total Revolution: Enlightenment and the World Crisis:
http://www.enlightennext.org/magazine/j19/vimala.asp?page=1
I highly recommend reading this whole article!
I have recently discovered Vimala Thakar and tonight at the Integral Loft there will be a talk by Megan Cater on Vimala's thinking...and what is the relevance for our days....
If anyone is interested I can send you information.
love
Sheri
wholeness. It is not a studied decision to help the poor, to be kind to
the unfortunate. Compassion has a tremendous momentum that naturally,
choicelessly moves us to worthy action. It has the force of
intelligence, creativity, and the strength of love. Compassion cannot
be cultivated; it derives neither from intellectual conviction nor from
emotional reaction. It is simply there when the wholeness of life
becomes a fact that is truly lived.
Compassion does not manifest itself when we live on the surface of existence, when we try to piece together a comfortable life
out of easily available fragments. Compassion requires a plunge to the
depths of life—where oneness is reality and divisions merely an
illusion. If we dwell at the superficial layers of being, we'll be
overly conscious of the apparent differences in human beings on the
physical and mental level, and of the superficial difference in
cultures and behavior. If we penetrate to the essentials, however, we
will discover that there is nothing fundamental that differentiates any
human being from another, or any human being from any other living
creature. All are manifestations of life, created with the same life
principles and nurtured by the same life-support systems. Oneness is
absolute reality; differentiation has only transitory, relative
reality." ~~ Vimala Thakar
Excerpted from Awakening to Total Revolution: Enlightenment and the World Crisis:
http://www.enlightennext.org/magazine/j19/vimala.asp?page=1
I highly recommend reading this whole article!
I have recently discovered Vimala Thakar and tonight at the Integral Loft there will be a talk by Megan Cater on Vimala's thinking...and what is the relevance for our days....
If anyone is interested I can send you information.
love
Sheri
Comment
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Comment by Joel Levey on March 31, 2010 at 3:25pm
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Thanks Sheri - Yes - this is one of the best article I've ever read - we also have it posted on our site at:
http://web.me.com/levey1/Meditation/Meditation_in_Action.html
with lots more great material.
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