The call of compassion
A heart of great hope
Hope
Like blossoming flowers
Touches our skin
🌼
The companion of compassion
Softening
To the beauty that surrounds us
🌼
Gently open our hearts
And wish
To be free
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Pause and sense
Our beautiful open hearts
And soothe our struggles
🌼
Take your courageous heart
And allow it to be
A beautiful place to live
🌼
Blackout poetry I created from the words in this essay.
As spring arrives in the Northern Hemisphere bringing signs of hope, we may feel our heart gently opening like blossoming flowers, whilst simultaneously feeling deeply saddened by world events. We may feel happiness as the warm sun touches our skin, joyful at the sweet sound of bird song, or feel our heart lifted by the multitude of spring colours that brighten our day. But we may also feel our heart full of a sadness, which can often be hard to bear.
So, how do we hold all of this in our heart? How do we contain it all?
A kind and open heart, needs the companion of compassion. The calling to be there, present with our whole heart, to all the sadness, pain and suffering, while softening it with our gentle awareness and connection to the beauty that surrounds us.
“Compassion is not a state or emotion, but an understanding.”
Christina Feldman - Boundless Heart
Compassion asks us to notice the pain and suffering that is beyond our own story and recognise our collective sorrows and grief. To see how we all wish to be free from suffering, from unease and dissatisfaction. It asks us to notice that we all have the same longing, and to gently open our hearts to generate the wish for all beings to be free from suffering.
Compassion is this wish, it is how we respond to the sorrows and pain, how we transform our empathy and understanding into helpful thoughts, words and actions.
It asks us to stay present without turning away, and to know that although we make this wish, it may not be within our power to change anything. Compassion asks us to be willing to stay close, to bear witness, and to do all that we can to help, even though that may never be enough.
‘Karuna’, the Pali word for compassion, expresses our courageous heart and being able to stay open to it all. We stay open with a loving heart, one that is free from judgement, blame and criticism, it simply stays aware of the struggles and listens to the pain with care and understanding.
“We learn we can turn toward rather than away from, to include rather than to exclude, to attend rather than to ignore, and to open our hearts to the cries of our own hearts and the cries of the world.”
Christina Feldman - Boundless Heart
Compassion allows us to start healing, it offers an ongoing journey to turn towards, rather than away from pain. To connect with our own inner struggles in a new way, without asking suffering to disappear, but instead to embrace it within a caring heart.
The sorrows and losses of our lives, the pain in our bodies, and the difficult and unwelcome thoughts and emotions are not signals of failure or imperfection. They remind us we are part of the human story, and we learn to ask ourselves “What does this need? rather than "How do I get rid of it?”
Christina Feldman - Boundless Heart
Compassion asks us to let go of needing to know, so we can just be present. It invites us to open our heart and mind so we can be curious about our struggles and allow ourselves to be gladdened by life too.
With this kind and open heart, healing can begin, and we can start to pause and notice what is well in our world. What feels good? What makes us happy? What joyful moments are there? Our beautiful open hearts, get to see the wonders, they get to feel grateful, they get to feel the heart soften at the simple pleasures in life.
We get to do it all, to warm our hearts, soothe our pain, and see our whole self, and the world, in all its messy and beautiful glory.
As you step outside this spring, take your courageous heart with you and allow it to be softened by the wonders of nature.
Our heart is our true home, so let us make it a beautiful place to live.
May this spring flower poem, be a balm to your heart. May the colours, sounds, sights and smells of nature soothe your soul and offer a gentle a reminder to open your loving-heart to compassion.
The colours of spring
Early spring snowdrop white
A promise of daffodil yellow
A splash of crocus purple
A pinch of pale primrose yellow
🌼
The joy of bright camellia pink
A glimmer of lesser celandine gold
A touch of wood anemone white
A sprinkle of bluebell violet
🌼
The caress of soft magnolia pink
A gathering of tulip rainbows
A flourish of hawthorn white
A gentle kiss of cherry blossom pink
Connect with Compassion
Listen to a Mantra
Listen to the OM Mani Padme Hum mantra by Imee Ooi.
OM Mani Padme Hum means “All hail the jewel in the lotus.”
This Tibetan Buddhist chant helps you remove the mud of life and arise as sparkling, pure, compassionate and wise beings, just like the lotus itself.
This chant embodies the compassion and blessings of all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, especially the Buddha of compassion ‘Avalokiteśvara’ (known as ‘Kannon’ in Japan, and ‘Quan Yin’ in China).
Listen to my Podcast
Visit my podcast ‘Clear and Calm’ and listen to my talk on “A mantra for compassion.”
I discuss what a mantra is, and how it can help, as well as offer you a Tibetan Buddhist mantra to help clear your mind, leaving you free to rest into a loving, kind and compassionate heart.
Discover Compassion Meditations
Try my online course ‘The Heart of Loving-Kindness.’
Explore the four boundless meditations of:
Ji - Metta or Loving-Kindness
Jihi – Karuṇā or Compassion
Ki – Muditā or Sympathetic Joy
Sha – Upekkhā or Peace and Equanimity
Try Buddhist Meditation
Join my Buddhist Meditation classes.
Held on a Friday morning 11am - 12pm online or in-person. Allow yourself to be guided through meditation and mindfulness practices to help you look after your thoughts, words and actions, so you can live with more calm, compassion and kindness.
I love the poem's invitation to live in the courageous heart. And the kindness and caring of the whole shared piece. Such a lovely offering for these times, Anne.
I love that you shared both the poem and the essay, and in such a gentle, beautiful way inviting us to explore the vital role of compassion in a human life