Spreading the Love via Compassion
I always say that Group Writing Projects are an easy way to blog. Someone else has already done the thinking and picked a topic for you to write your experience or opinions on.
And “Spread the Love NOW” couldn’t have come at a better time for me. There are a lots of the things in this project that resonate with me now. One, that the project is to write something about Compassion, a character trait that I saw a lot of recently when my very close friend passed away. Second, because compassion is a trait that I am very passionate about and I feel we can’t have enough of. Third, the project is organized by the three monks, Albert of Urban Monk, Kenton of Zen Inspired Self Development and Wade of The Middle Way, who so passionately write on all of the subjects that are very dear to me such as meditation, Buddhism, consciousness, spirituality, philosophy and self improvement.
As I understand compassion, it is what we feel when we see someone else in pain and we automatically are compelled to do something to relieve them of that pain. Feelings of selfless caring and kindness accompanied by love, regard and patience.
It is easy to find perfect examples of compassion all around us. I’ve been overwhelmed with so much care and kindness in the hospitals, where so many people are suffering and the nurses are helping the patients and their families with those tasks that sometimes even the closest family members avoid doing.
Doctors had told my friend’s family that there was nothing more they could do to save her. The nurses, the physicians, other staff members and just about everyone who had been taking care of her for months or had come in contact with her, as if turned into some sort of a saint, bending over backwards to help us with whatever we needed. It was overwhelming to see so much kindness and so much love and caring. These people would hug us when we were down in the dumps, they would cry with us and listen to us, talk to us about their own sad times.
And it did not matter what color, creed, race or religion someone belonged to in that setting of the hospital. This was in the cancer care institute and majority of the patients were with advanced stages. Its a setting where every one, regardless of their cultural background, becomes aware in a strange manner that we are all connected with each other via some strange common source and that we all have the same destiny in the end. Perhaps, that is the reason you can find everyone helping each other out in a most peaceful manner, trying to do whatever it takes to comfort each other. A true sense of altruism prevailed there. Amidst all the grief, their kindness made it easier for us to go through the ordeal.
As Dalai Lama said, “we do not need to become religious, or believe in any ideology, we just need to develop good human qualities to be happy.”
I think if we all exercised similar caring, compassion, kindness and love under normal circumstances, in our daily lives, we could be a much happier society. Happier societies would raise happier and more confident children. And when a person’s self esteem is healthier, he is more successful in life and does not feel the need to ‘attack’ any other and ’snatch’ from others.
==========================
I am so glad Isabella from Change Therapy tagged me for this project. Thanks Isabella.
The Rules of the Game
This is a joint effort by the Three Monks – Wade of The Middle Way, Kenton of Zen-Inspired Self Development, and Albert of Urban Monk.Net. The watches are kindly provided by the coolest timepiece company ever – The Now Watch.
To participate –
1) Write a post as described above. You’re encouraged, although not required, to link to all three of the judges.
2) Contact any one of us, either by emailing, or leaving a comment in one of the judge’s posts.
3) You’re encouraged also to spread the word, tag your friends, and ask them to participate.
4) On 5 January 2008, the three judges will look at all the entries, pick the winners, and publish a list, so we can all share the links and traffic.
5) The results will be posted on 10 January 2008 on all three judge’s blogs. Winners will be contacted for mailing address details so we can send them to you!
UPDATE: I completely forgot I was supposed to tag some, so here it goes.. I’d love to hear what you have to say on compassion…
RennyBA, Kaylee , David, Pelf, Aruni, Ad Tracker, Kim, Sueblimely, Mig
Technorati Tags: compassion, personal development, blog, Group Writing Project
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i like the idea of trying to focus attention on one particular topic, by...
[...] an extremely boring person who writes nothing but inane ramblings, a fascinating person who makes interesting observations, or someone in between. From my own perspective, I'm an extremely boring person and I write [...]
Pearl, I’m glad to see that joined the gwp. I’d forgotten that Isabella had tagged you; I just tagged you too!
Good quote from the Dalai Lama.
Jacob
I would be happy to write about this. I am not sure if I have the time for a major effort but I can contribute something.
I think i will so this tomorrow
thanks for the tag Pearl…
I’ll see what I can manage ….
all the best
Kim
laketrees’s last blog post..Happy New Year 2008 !!
Thank you for this Pearl. I love the personal touch, and the quote by the Dalai Lama.
Albert | UrbanMonk.Net’s last blog post..The Best of 2007 and the Only Lesson I’ve Learnt
[...] Pearl at Interesting Observations. [...]
Hi Pearl, thanks for thinking about me - I will set my mind to the subject and post soon.
Hi everyone: can’t wait to see your entries… thanks for taking the time to stop by… tc
Hi Albert: You are welcome and thank YOU! I think Dalai Lama is one cool guy
Hope to see you here again! tc
Dreamcatchers Spreading Love…
Wings of faith, angel hands holding the airy heart of Hope. Every time I read about blog projects meant to make us better, more aware of the wounds of the world, I feel that the human race still has a chance to a brighter future, a future dominated by …
Thank you so much for this tag, Pearl. My entry is now online.
Mig’s last blog post..Dreamcatchers Spreading Love
[...] of Interesting Observations tagged me on this Spread the Love NOW! Group Writing Project, which was started by the Three Monks [...]
Great post, Pearl. Thanks for sharing your personal story with us.
Compassion is that thing we all experience on a daily basis, but we often need reminders such as these to realise that it does exist, and that it exists in such abundance.
Samir’s last blog post..What Relates Swan Lake and Musical Fountains to Compassion?
Nice post for this project!
Matthew | www.loving-awareness.org’s last blog post..The beauty of gray
thanks Samir. you are right, there IS compassion all around, only if we stop to recognize it. There is so much emphasis on the negative these days, our minds get programmed to see more of it I think.
thanks for stopping by Mathew.
Mig, thanks for participating!
Hi Pearl and thank you so much for thinking of me in this - I fell honoured and flattered. Never the less, I am sooooo sorry I could not make due to short notice and a very busy schedule. Even if my you know my engagement for spreading love and compassion around the world - after all my motto is: ‘Make Blogs, not Wars’ - business comes first. Blogging is after all a hobby, although a great one
Please give an other chance when something comes up!
RennyBA’s last blog post..Scandinavian delight - seafood and fireworks
[...] Iain Hamp at Follow Your Passions. Rahul at Raw Speak. Stephen Miracle at AltNoise.Net. Pearl at Interesting Observations. Mark at My Tropical Escape. Matthew at Loving Awareness. Daylle Schwartz at Lessons from a [...]
[...] Iain Hamp at Follow Your Passions. Rahul at Raw Speak. Stephen Miracle at AltNoise.Net. Pearl at Interesting Observations. Mark at My Tropical Escape. Matthew at Loving Awareness. Daylle Schwartz at Lessons from a [...]
Hi Pearl,
Thanks for your post on compassion and your entry into the GWP, it’s fantastic.
Peace,
Wade
http://themiddleway.net
Wade M | TheMiddleWay’s last blog post..Coming to Reality with Dishes
Renny - thats okay… you can still make a post if you want to just share something… I am sorry it was at the last minute, Ive been busy myself with all of the non blogging side of my life
tc and stay in touch
Hi Wade… thank you for stopping by and commenting
its a nice project! tc
[...] Pearl at Interesting Observations. [...]
[...] Pearl at Interesting Observations. [...]
[...] pearl at interesting observations. [...]