The Original Dialogues of Robert Adams.
"This has been my experience."
On The Importance of Compassion for Awakening
Why is compassion so important? Why do some spiritual students underestimate the power of compassion? Because they think its not the most important thing. They think its not their path. That is a big mistake. Why do some people think this? Because no one was ever compassionate to them. So they say it does not exist. Or it is not that important. Without Great Compassion, you can never Awaken. You cannot comprehend the spiritual journey. Compassion is the essence of your True Nature. By expressing this virtue, you are expressing your True Self.
Student Question: Is it Higher to Just Meditate and Practice Techniques?
I meet some people who think that its better to practice a spiritual technique than to perform acts of compassion. They say, its better to teach a man to fish for a lifetime than to give him fish for a day. This may be true. But let's be honest. Ask yourself, if you were starving, would you like a spiritual discourse, or food? Better to give both. Food for the soul and the body.
The very act of relieving suffering is a spiritual act. Never forget this. It should be natural and second nature. You dont have to be in India or wear Indian clothes, or just help the so called 'spiritual' people.
So many people think they are compassionate people, yet the minute something becomes uncomfortable to them, they are "outta here!" They won't give a ride to a friend, stand by someone in loneliness, share what they have with those less fortunate. Then karma comes in. They will have to experience the same suffering to learn compassion.
Eventually all must become the epitome of loving kindness.
Compassion is a very powerful tool for Awakening. Everyone is born with it. A mother for child, a friend for a friend, for a pet. It is the natural way. If you do not have compassion, it only means you have covered it up.
Compassion is different from what most people think it is. There is the sympathy where there is suffering. You are lost in the Dream. Then there is Divine Compassion. You realize you are in the Dream. Truly realize it.
That you are not the doer. There is no one doing it. That you are not expecting any reward. When you realize your True Nature there is no choice but to relieve suffering in others for there is no difference. There are two ways of looking at this. One is the natural way of the heart. One naturally feels compassion for others. One is deeply affected by the apparent injustice. It is their path to act on this.
But the secret is to remain unperturbed on a deep level, for you know it is a dream. You can use this as a cop out. You can say, "It doesn't matter, it is all a dream, so why help that person?" Some people think this is the path of observance. This is the lowest sort of illusion. You are fooling yourself. You are making excuse for your own selfish tendencies. This is not the way of Awareness. This increases suffering. Then you wonder why you are suffering. Why life is so hard.
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