The essence of love and compassion is understanding, the ability to recognize the physical, material, and psychological suffering of others, to put ourselves inside the skin of the other. We go inside their body, feelings, and mental formations, and witness for ourselves their suffering. Shallow observation as an outsider is not enough to see their suffering. We must become one with the subject of our observation. When we are in contact with another's suffering, a feeling of compassion is born in us. Compassion means, literally, to suffer with.
More Author Quotes
- By listening with calm and understanding, we can ease the suffering of another person. ✨ Thich Nhat Hanh, Sherab Chodzin Kohn (2011). True Love: A Practice for Awakening the Heart, p.37, Shambhala Pu … ▶
- I would not look upon anger as something foreign to me that I have to fight... I have to deal with my anger with care, with love, with tenderness, with nonviolence. ✨ Thich Nhat Hanh (2008). Being Pe … ▶
- Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor. ✨ Twitter post from Jan 05, 2016
- By eating meat we share responsibility for causing climate change, the destruction of our forests, and the poisoning of our air and water. The simple act of becoming a vegetarian can make a differenc … ▶
- The most precious gift we can offer others is our presence. ✨ Thich Nhat Hanh (2007). Living Buddha, Living Christ 10th Anniversary Edition, p.20, Penguin
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