Compassion.

[sky]

Is there a downside to feeling compassion for all sentient beings?

[Untersberg56]

Shinran (1173-1262) made clear in Kyogyoshinso that the motive for seeking rebirth in the Pure Land is the desire to help other sentient beings achieve it (bodhicitta).

The purpose of the Pure Land teaching is for devotees to escape the cycle of rebirth within one lifetime. Once this is achieved, it then becomes one's duty to take part in the rescue of other sentient beings (whatever that phrase means) and help them join oneself in the Pure Land.

Therefore the single aim is to empty the hells (of which this planet is one). Distractions such as questions about downsides ought not to occur along the path of practice.

[sentient]

Originally Posted by sky123

Is there a downside to feeling compassion for all sentient beings?

There is and it is called “Idiot Compassion”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4il0V50UDk

https://enlightenmentward.wordpress....ot-compassion/

*

[sky]

Originally Posted by sentient

There is and it is called “Idiot Compassion”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4il0V50UDk

https://enlightenmentward.wordpress....ot-compassion/

*

Interesting article Sentient but I wouldn't have used the word 'Idiot' lol, thank you.

[sky]

Originally Posted by Untersberg56

Shinran (1173-1262) made clear in Kyogyoshinso that the motive for seeking rebirth in the Pure Land is the desire to help other sentient beings achieve it (bodhicitta).

The purpose of the Pure Land teaching is for devotees to escape the cycle of rebirth within one lifetime. Once this is achieved, it then becomes one's duty to take part in the rescue of other sentient beings (whatever that phrase means) and help them join oneself in the Pure Land.

Therefore the single aim is to empty the hells (of which this planet is one). Distractions such as questions about downsides ought not to occur along the path of practice.

" Distractions such as questions about downsides ought not to occur along the path of practice "

We can agree to differ on this.... Buddha taught to question everything.

[Samana]

.

Compassion is the second of the Four Sublime States taught by the Buddha. (Loving Kindness, Compassion, Sympathetic Joy, and Equanimity.)

II. Compassion (Karuna)

The world suffers. But most men have their eyes and ears closed. They do not see the unbroken stream of tears flowing through life; they do not hear the cry of distress continually pervading the world. Their own little grief or joy bars their sight, deafens their ears. Bound by selfishness, their hearts turn stiff and narrow. Being stiff and narrow, how should they be able to strive for any higher goal, to realize that only release from selfish craving will effect their own freedom from suffering?

It is compassion that removes the heavy bar, opens the door to freedom, makes the narrow heart as wide as the world. Compassion takes away from the heart the inert weight, the paralyzing heaviness; it gives wings to those who cling to the lowlands of self.

Through compassion the fact of suffering remains vividly present to our mind, even at times when we personally are free from it. It gives us the rich experience of suffering, thus strengthening us to meet it prepared, when it does befall us.

Compassion reconciles us to our own destiny by showing us the life of others, often much harder than ours.

Behold the endless caravan of beings, men and beasts, burdened with sorrow and pain! The burden of every one of them, we also have carried in bygone times during the unfathomable sequence of repeated births. Behold this, and open your heart to compassion!

And this misery may well be our own destiny again! He who is without compassion now, will one day cry for it. If sympathy with others is lacking, it will have to be acquired through one's own long and painful experience. This is the great law of life. Knowing this, keep guard over yourself!

Beings, sunk in ignorance, lost in delusion, hasten from one state of suffering to another, not knowing the real cause, not knowing the escape from it. This insight into the general law of suffering is the real foundation of our compassion, not any isolated fact of suffering.

Hence our compassion will also include those who at the moment may be happy, but act with an evil and deluded mind. In their present deeds we shall foresee their future state of distress, and compassion will arise.

The compassion of the wise man does not render him a victim of suffering. His thoughts, words and deeds are full of pity. But his heart does not waver; unchanged it remains, serene and calm. How else should he be able to help?

May such compassion arise in our hearts! Compassion that is sublime nobility of heart and intellect which knows, understands and is ready to help.

Compassion that is strength and gives strength: this is highest compassion.

And what is the highest manifestation of compassion?

To show to the world the path leading to the end of suffering, the path pointed out, trodden and realized to perfection by Him, the Exalted One, the Buddha.

https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/...l006.html#cont

May all sentient beings have peace and happiness _/|\_

.

[Untersberg56]

Unfortunately there are various kinds of Buddhism and not all Buddhist paths run parallel.

All this reflection, questioning and meditation on compassion binds a person to the Earth.

We are all riddled with sin, cannot perform any act without considering first whether it benefits ourselves, our family, our country, our political party, our team, our bank balance: we are self-centred and evil by our very nature. A bleeding heart cannot lead to Buddhahood, nor is Buddhahood attained by merit or good deeds.

When Faith arises, the Buddha-nature arises, and one is instantly reassured of rebirth in the Pure Land. That is the personal battlefield, not understanding how terrible life is for thousands of millions of other people.

Namo Kuan Shih Yin Pusa.

[sky]

Originally Posted by Untersberg56

Unfortunately there are various kinds of Buddhism and not all Buddhist paths run parallel.

All this reflection, questioning and meditation on compassion binds a person to the Earth.

We are all riddled with sin, cannot perform any act without considering first whether it benefits ourselves, our family, our country, our political party, our team, our bank balance: we are self-centred and evil by our very nature. A bleeding heart cannot lead to Buddhahood, nor is Buddhahood attained by merit or good deeds.

When Faith arises, the Buddha-nature arises, and one is instantly reassured of rebirth in the Pure Land. That is the personal battlefield, not understanding how terrible life is for thousands of millions of other people.

Namo Kuan Shih Yin Pusa.

' We are all riddled with sin, cannot perform any act without considering first whether it benefits ourselves, our family, our country, our political party, our team, our bank balance: we are self-centred and evil by our very nature.'



I don't see that everyone is riddle with sin, that's is a very negative view in my opinion, and I personally can perform act's without considering if it benefits myself, mybe you see that we are all self-centred and evil by nature but I see exactly the opposite. I see the good in humanity.

[Untersberg56]

SKY 123

Could you provide as requested earlier, your interpretation of the Buddha's expression "sentient beings"? Is there, perhaps, some reason why it has to remain uncertain?

As I understand purgatory, it is a place to where everybody goes initially between incarnations. There, in the pure light of perfect action, we are obliged to review our acts of commission and omission in the life just finished.

Who can honestly claim to have never committed any single act sufficiently tinged with sin or evil that it causes one suffering and regret just to remember it?

Those of humankind who remain unenlightened but have faith in salvation held out by a Redemptrix such as the Virgin Mary or Kuan Yin are received into the Pure Land (doctrine of Avelokitesvara). This is the primary task beset us. There is no doubt much "good in humanity" but I prefer to concentrate on escaping from humanity first as ordered.

[sky]

Originally Posted by Untersberg56

SKY 123

Could you provide as requested earlier, your interpretation of the Buddha's expression "sentient beings"? Is there, perhaps, some reason why it has to remain uncertain?

As I understand purgatory, it is a place to where everybody goes initially between incarnations. There, in the pure light of perfect action, we are obliged to review our acts of commission and omission in the life just finished.

Who can honestly claim to have never committed any single act sufficiently tinged with sin or evil that it causes one suffering and regret just to remember it?

Those of humankind who remain unenlightened but have faith in salvation held out by a Redemptrix such as the Virgin Mary or Kuan Yin are received into the Pure Land (doctrine of Avelokitesvara). This is the primary task beset us. There is no doubt much "good in humanity" but I prefer to concentrate on escaping from humanity first as ordered.

' Sentient beings are composed of the five aggregates, or skandhas: matter, sensation, perception, mental formations and consciousness. ... '


' but I prefer to concentrate on escaping from humanity first [i][b]as ordered '

Who ordered you?