Compassion

In my first posting (What is Interstices, May 24, 2009), I referenced a quote from His Holiness the Dalai Lama when he was speaking at the Ethics for the New Millennium Conference in Edinburgh Scotland in November of 2005. “All major religions carry the same messages,” he said: “messages of love, compassion, forgiveness, tolerance, contentment and self-discipline. I have Muslim friends, Christian friends. All have these same values.”

So, I want to spend some time writing about what Buddhism and Christianity say about love and compassion and forgiveness and tolerance. I will do this through a series of posts, roughly along the following lines: today I want to speak to the basics and in future posts I’ll address some other related themes like compassion and action, compassion and diversity, compassion for our enemies, and then finally I’ll end with some Buddhist meditations and Christian prayers on compassion. At the glacial speed I post to this blog, it could take weeks to get all this pulled together so be patient.

I’m struck by the simplicity in which the entirety of Buddhism and Christianity can be summed up in a few brief statements, or one word really: love.

Jesus says, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” (John 13:34)

Elsewhere, Jesus says, “Love your neighbor as yourself—this is the greatest commandment.” (Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 22:39; Mark 12:31; Luke 10:27)

Paul makes a more sweeping statement: “The entire law is summed up in a single command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Galatians 5:14) It’s not just the greatest commandment, but the summing up of the entire law.

And just so you’re clear that this love extends to everyone (not just your friends, as in “love one another,” and not merely that kindly old lady who lives next door with the small dog and the garden, as in “love your neighbors”) Jesus throws down the gauntlet with this really tough one: “Love your enemies.” (Matthew 5:44; Luke 6:27)

The entire law, the entire teaching and ministry of Jesus, summed up in one phrase, one word really, a single command: love. It’s a verb (not a noun)—it requires action (not a passive state of being).

I’m not hearing any judgment here, no condemnation, no threats of burning in hell or eternal damnation—just love and compassion for all beings; a Gospel of compassion, not a Gospel of hate and judgment.

The Metta Sutta is the Buddha’s discourse on love and compassion, (metta meaning compassion or loving-kindness, and sutta or sutra meaning discourse or teaching). I’ve heard it referred to as the Universal Hymn of Love. Expressing similar commands, the Buddha says:

Cultivate an all-embracing, boundless mind of love

And radiate love through the entire world,

In all its height, depth and breadth —

Love that is untroubled and unhindered

And beyond hatred, ill will or enmity.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama sums up both the Buddhist and Christian perspective beautifully and succinctly: “I have no need of elaborate temples or complicated religions: my heart is my temple and my religion is kindness.”

Some more equally succinct sayings on metta by HHDL:

“Be kind whenever possible . . . and it is always possible.”

“If you can, help others; if you cannot do that, at least do them no harm.”

"If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.”

“Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive.”

“Whether one believes in a religion or not, and whether one believes in rebirth or not, there isn’t anyone who doesn’t appreciate kindness and compassion.”

A string of quotes from Jesus, Buddha and HHDL, all variations on a theme: love one another. Pick one that speaks to you and let it become your compassion mantra. Repeat it to yourself whenever you get pissed off, angry, hurt, or neglected. Repeat it to yourself when you see the homeless person or the beggar on the street. Just repeat it to yourself: love one another.