I wrote this blog this fall for a class I was in at WCSU. It is startling how these lessons are applicable to what we are going through as a community. Take a moment and read through it. Then maybe share it with someone who might need it. This blog appeared in the Danbury Patch in October.
Training the Mind to Lead a "Compassionate Life"
by
Kat Barton
We’ve been
talking a lot about compassion in preparation for His Holiness The Dalai Lama’s
visit to WCSU. But what does
it mean to live a compassionate life?
Compassion
is defined as the sympathetic consciousness
of others' distress together with a desire to alleviate it. In other words you are aware of
another’s distress AND you want to make it better.
In
the Dalai Lama’s book “The Compassionate Life,” he discusses the Eight Verses
for Training the Mind that summarizes the key teachings on both wisdom and
method.
Verse
one focuses on holding dear all other sentient beings. The main point is to develop an
attitude that allows you to feel all sentient beings are precious.
Verse
two builds on the idea of holding sentient beings above self. Thinking of
others as superior provides a basis for restraint.
The
third verse rejects negative thinking.
The Dalai Lama goes on to explain that it is important to cultivate
mindfulness from the beginning.
The
fourth verse continues on the negative theme focusing on those who suffer
negativity or pain. Cultivating
empathy is the goal with this teaching.
In
mind training the fifth verse discusses accepting defeat without anger.
The
sixth verse talks about disappointment from the acts of someone we’ve trusted
and rather than reacting with outrage that we look at this as an opportunity to
learn.
In
the seventh verse the student takes on the suffering.
In
the eighth verse we are cautioned not to allow worldly concerns such as fame
and wealth become more important than leading a compassionate life.
“It could be said that the Eight Verses for Training the
Mind contain the entire essence of the Buddha’s teachings.” ---His Holiness The
Dalai Lama
His
Holiness the Dalai Lama will speak on Oct. 18 and 19 at Western Connecticut
State University, and the public is invited to a free showing (video simulcast)
in the Ives Concert Hall, 181 White St. To help promote this opportunity, WCSU
students in the Writing and Linguistics Department's Advertising, Copywriting
and Promotions class created a Twitter page. and
they are writing this blog daily.
