Cultivating a Compassionate Mind: Step 4
April 10, 2023 | 6 CommentsAudio-only version is here.
Meditation practice begins at 18:06.
Dear Open Heart Project,
Welcome to the final video in this series on Cultivating a Compassionate Mind.
Week 1: Affection for the World
Week 2: Faith in the Right Situations
Week 3: Compassion for Sentient Beings
Now we come to Bravery, the fourth quality. In this view, bravery begins with developing some tolerance for your own discomfort. If we are unable to do so (or simply chose not to), we ignore our own pain and the pain of others and may choose to hide from those who need us.
Please have a listen to this short talk for more ideas about bravery and compassion in general. I always love to hear your thoughts! Please let me hear any questions or reflections.
Love, Susan
categorized in: meditation, open heart project
6 Comments
Loved this! Both the recap, and the explanation of bravery.
Thank you Susan. It s always good to have these reminders of what being compassionate and brave is, and why sangha is important.
I need to make more of an effort again in that department, without feeling overwhelmed by energy sucking sentient beings.
I also see the importance of connection and of being human together.
Please explain still why you laughed at the ‘brave hero’! (or did I miss it?)
Sending much love from the hood ⚓️
XO B
Susan,
You are a wonderful and brilliant teacher! 💝 Your teaching are concise, meaningful, and useful.
Thank You!
Marsha
Thank you Susan. Awareness of ‘us and them’’ thinking and compassion will be in my awareness for a while . Namaste. Patty
Thank you for this lovely reminder about the true nature of bravery. I do not think of myself as a very brave person, although I have not generally shied away from discomfort myself. I see discomfort in others, though, and do what I can to relieve that – I am thinking that it would be more honest to do what I can to help them sit with it. I find there is a sort of spider web of suffering, starting with discomfort at one’s actions or thoughts, then guilt or shame about feeling unable to tolerate the discomfort, the “second arrow” that keeps stabbing, then self-aggression for being such a crummy human. Part of the web is also history, regrets, fears and anxieties – a whole sticky mess. Perhaps it is a baby step to look at the tangle without attaching to it, and that could be a bit of bravery right there. So much to contemplate!
yes, what is the funny story?
I adore the example about the car window that doesn’t go all the way down with “one touch”. I have had that exact experience along with many other “first world” inconveniences!
From now on, I shall exclaim “is this what I’ve come to?“, laugh and move on!
Best story ever!