"Will not the ocean of joy
That shall exist when all beings are free
Be sufficient for me ?
What am I doing wishing for my liberation alone ?"
Atiśa : Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment, 108.
"This Dharma Wheel is the wheel of the
mantra
Om mani padme hum, the essence of the Transcendent
Compassionate-Eyed One received from the Buddhas upon request, which
represents the essence of all the qualities of the body, speech,
mind and actions of all the Buddhas."
Fourth Panchen Lama : Benefits of the Six-Syllable Prayer Wheel.
|
|
Avalokiteśvara, Buddha of Compassion
appearing as an Eighth Ground Bodhisattva (Weber, 1983) |
|
|
"Karunâ", translated as "compassion" or "kindness"
is
one of the Four Immeasurables
("brahmavihâras"), the key
quality of Bodhisattvas & Buddhas and the most skillful
method. In tune with
Bodhicitta, it extends itself
without distinction to all sentient beings, representing the
enlightened actions of the Buddhas.
If love is the mind wishing all others to be happy, compassion is
the actual activity or engagement making this happen. This
compassionate mind is an outstanding example of engaging
Bodhicitta. For this reason,
compassion is the most excellent & sublime of
methods, accumulating vast
merit.
To have its effect
perfected, compassion is coupled with
wisdom ("prajñâ") realizing
emptiness.
Realizing the interconnectedness between all phenomena, compasssion
leads to emptiness. Thanks to compassion,
emptiness manifests luminous forms.
|
Loving-kindness, the mind longing for the well-being of
oneself and others, is a mere wish, an aspiration or intent focusing on
the elimination of suffering and its causes. Compassion is an action, and
actually alters causes and conditions, leading to the realization of the
greatest happiness, namely freedom from suffering.
Great compassion benefits all sentient beings, eliminating their
obscurations and leading them to full enlightenment. With this extended
compassion, the Buddha of Compassion appears in the six realms of "samsâra"
as the Great Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara, and giving to each what is
needed, liberates them all.
|
REALM |
COLOR |
DELUSION |
PERFECTION |
MANTRA |
| Gods |
white |
pride |
concentration |
OM |
| Demigods |
green |
jealousy |
ethics |
MA |
| Humans |
yellow |
attachment |
joyous effort |
NI |
| Animals |
blue |
stupidity |
wisdom |
PAD |
| Ghosts |
red |
greed |
generosity |
ME |
| Hell-beings |
black |
hatred |
patience |
HUM |
Although compassion shares in the suffering of others
empathetically, it does not do so to the point of sadness, for the latter
cripples the mind, disabling it to actually help. There is no point in
dwelling in sadness & grief. Although there is no single answer to the
questions "What can I do ?", compassion will engage wisdom & understanding
and try to alleviate the pain, if possible and wanted. Not feeling sadness at another
person's distress does not equate with indifference or lacking in emotion.
Sadness makes us useless to help ourselves and others. It fixates the
problem.
This page is still
Under Construction !
