Re: Compassion - Rosemary/Marilyn????

[Guest guest]

I do not agree with Rosemary's statement of: " Compassion is a

positive feeling and has no need for inquiry.

> Positive feelings don't cause stress or anxiety or discomfort so we

> do not need to waste our energy thinking about them. " - Rosemary.

For me, the feeling of compassion merely reflects how I have

forgotten who I and my brother Really are and that I am believing

that the dream is Reality. For me, compassion is related to my

arrogance.

Positive or negative feelings are merely judgement calls and, for me,

are not necessarily a yardstick for deciding which thoughts should be

inquired. Am I the only one that sees it this way?

It's a sky, Is that true?

Happy Holidays, Steve D.

> " Compassion is a positive feeling and has no need for inquiry.

> Positive feelings don't cause stress or anxiety or discomfort so we

> do not need to waste our energy thinking about them. " - Rosemary

>

>

> Makes sense to me. Thanks.

> Marilyn

> Learning to Love What Is.

[Guest guest]

> I do not agree with Rosemary's statement of: " Compassion is a

> positive feeling and has no need for inquiry.

> > Positive feelings don't cause stress or anxiety or discomfort so we

> > do not need to waste our energy thinking about them. " - Rosemary.

>

> For me, the feeling of compassion merely reflects how I have

> forgotten who I and my brother Really are and that I am believing

> that the dream is Reality. For me, compassion is related to my

> arrogance.

Hi, Steve. I'm guessing it's a question of the meaning one attaches to

the word compassion. If compassion is a feeling, I would agree with

you. If we substitute the word " sympathy " for compassion, I agree with

you.

However, the meaning I attach to compassion is just " being present and

befriending " . When painful thoughts arise and I'm able to meeting them

with understanding, I think of that as being compassionate with

myself. When my friend is suffering and I'm able to be present to him

without judgement, simply listening and accepting and not going into

story myself about what he should do or how he should change to escape

his suffering, I think of that as being compassionate with my friend.

> Positive or negative feelings are merely judgement calls and, for me,

> are not necessarily a yardstick for deciding which thoughts should be

> inquired. Am I the only one that sees it this way?

> It's a sky, Is that true?

Um, that's what I call it. I have no idea *what* it is. But until I

questioned that thought, I believed that I knew. Now I know that I

don't.

I have found doing The Work on uncomfortable feelings very freeing. I

have also found that I've learned things about myself and have not

suffered any unpleasant effects when I've done The Work on peaceful

thoughts. I have not tried to do The Work on *every* thought.

love,

Tom

[Guest guest]

I do not agree with Rosemary's statement of: " Compassion is a

positive feeling and has no need for inquiry.

> Positive feelings don't cause stress or anxiety or discomfort so we

> do not need to waste our energy thinking about them. " - Rosemary.

For me, the feeling of compassion merely reflects how I have

forgotten who I and my brother Really are and that I am believing

that the dream is Reality. For me, compassion is related to my

arrogance. Positive or negative feelings are merely judgement calls

and, for me, are not necessarily a yardstick for deciding which

thoughts should be inquired. Am I the only one that sees it this way?

It's a sky, Is that true?

*****Compassion exists until one knows s/he is being compassionate.

That's how I see it, Steve. Once there is awareness that one

is " being " compassion, it is no longer compassion but, to use de

Mello's words, " either enlightened self-interest or, plain self-

interest. "

NONE of these three 'states' is wrong nor is any one better than the

others. They are simply the ways that It chooses to express itself

in the phenomenal universe. The notion that one state is

preferential to another is simply the mind making problems where

there are none. It's not like 'we' get to choose how we will be.

As is written in the first verse of the Faith Mind Sutra (Hsin Hsin

Ming), a famous poem by the Third Zen Patriarch:

The Great Way is not difficult

for those who have no preferences.

When love and hate are both absent

everything becomes clear and undisguised.

Make the smallest distinction, however

and heaven and earth are set infinitely apart.

If you wish to see the truth

then hold no opinions for or against anything.

To set up what you like against what you dislike

is the disease of the mind.

When the deep meaning of things is not understood

the mind's essential peace is disturbed to no avail.

[Guest guest]

Dear Andy:

Thank you for sharing the " Faith Mind Sutra " . I really enjoyed it

and will share it with my friends and I could find no disagreement

with your post.

Happy Holidays, Steve D.

>

> I do not agree with Rosemary's statement of: " Compassion is a

> positive feeling and has no need for inquiry.

>

> > Positive feelings don't cause stress or anxiety or discomfort so

we

> > do not need to waste our energy thinking about them. " - Rosemary.

>

> For me, the feeling of compassion merely reflects how I have

> forgotten who I and my brother Really are and that I am believing

> that the dream is Reality. For me, compassion is related to my

> arrogance. Positive or negative feelings are merely judgement

calls

> and, for me, are not necessarily a yardstick for deciding which

> thoughts should be inquired. Am I the only one that sees it this

way?

> It's a sky, Is that true?

>

>

> *****Compassion exists until one knows s/he is being compassionate.

>

> That's how I see it, Steve. Once there is awareness that one

> is " being " compassion, it is no longer compassion but, to use de

> Mello's words, " either enlightened self-interest or, plain self-

> interest. "

>

> NONE of these three 'states' is wrong nor is any one better than

the

> others. They are simply the ways that It chooses to express itself

> in the phenomenal universe. The notion that one state is

> preferential to another is simply the mind making problems where

> there are none. It's not like 'we' get to choose how we will be.

>

> As is written in the first verse of the Faith Mind Sutra (Hsin Hsin

> Ming), a famous poem by the Third Zen Patriarch:

>

> The Great Way is not difficult

> for those who have no preferences.

> When love and hate are both absent

> everything becomes clear and undisguised.

> Make the smallest distinction, however

> and heaven and earth are set infinitely apart.

> If you wish to see the truth

> then hold no opinions for or against anything.

> To set up what you like against what you dislike

> is the disease of the mind.

> When the deep meaning of things is not understood

> the mind's essential peace is disturbed to no avail.