Questions tagged [compassion]
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107
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6answers
132 views
How to teach sympathy/empathy in Buddhism?
I have been following Buddhism and mindfulness for a while now. I have a 5 year old son and want to teach him to be sympathetic/empathetic and grateful but im struggle to reconcile some of the ...
1
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5answers
148 views
Compulsive desire to correct others
I'm often trying to correct others' views, opinions, and lifestyles.
I feel a strong urge to correct when their actions are clearly bringing negative consequences for themselves and others. For ...
1
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2answers
93 views
What was the name of the great compassion meditation the Buddha did for a significant part of his daily routine?
Didn't the Buddha do some kind of great compassion meditation for a significant part of his daily routine while teaching? If so, what's the name of it and what did it involve?
2
votes
8answers
135 views
Relationship between truth and compassion
Can a bodhisattva or lay Buddhist be too concerned with truth at the expense of compassion and altruism?
What is the relationship between truth and compassion? e.g.. is the truth always compassionate, ...
5
votes
6answers
151 views
Why do enlightened beings want to save sentient beings? Does everyone want to be saved?
Does enlightenment always comes with compassion so that all enlightened beings aspire to save sentient beings from sufferings? Or is the question 'why' only showing that I am using my discriminating ...
0
votes
3answers
99 views
Ghost or horror stories/videos are appropriate during Pandemic moment?
There are more and more horror movie during pandemic and tension moment. Hong Kong is one of the example before riots recently.
Pretty much of productions of horror or ghost movie produced because the ...
3
votes
5answers
113 views
How to show compassion for attention-seeker
I like the way this site tries to focus on practical advice so I have a specific question concerning compassion.
I have a close person that used to be closer in the past. Mainly I distanced somewhat ...
4
votes
5answers
188 views
Compassion vs the invisible hand and capitalism
Compassion and empathy encompassing all beings seems to be the Buddhist ideal. How do Buddhists reconcile this today with Adam Smith's invisible hand? I.e., the idea that following our self-interest ...
4
votes
7answers
244 views
Sunyata is the truth and compassion is not an illusion?
It’s curious that if you study Buddhism you need to understand that Maya is an illusion and life is a product of cause and effect of past karma, so is deceptive. All my emotions are deceptive but ...
3
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4answers
345 views
Can someone help me to find suttas on Self compassion
QN: I'm looking for Buddha's teachings on self compassion. (Especially for lay practitioners.)
There are few verses which can be found in Dhammapada:
He, who by good deeds covers the evil he has done,...
5
votes
7answers
535 views
How should I offer a compassionate ear to my mother while setting healthy boundaries?
I hope you are all well.
I have been studying Buddhism for a few months and I am very grateful for the teachings. I've visited this website frequently for similar questions and this is the first ...
5
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0answers
44 views
Stages of Compassion in Mahayana
Dear friends, I am looking for references pertaining to the notion of the Four Stages of Compassion in the Mahayana traditions.
Thank you for your kind and generous help, may you all be well and safe.
...
2
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3answers
148 views
The Practice of Giving: How to Practice Giving "Thusly"?
In the Diamond Sutra (or Vajra Prajna Paramita Sutra) Buddha says to Subhuti:
a Bodhisattva should not dwell anywhere when he gives. He should not dwell in forms when he gives, nor should he dwell ...
0
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1answer
82 views
Why vinaya forbids monk to ordain physically handicapped?
Isn't this a kind of "opposite to empathy, compassion, metta"?
Nowdays, householders(not all) have cruel behaviour towards handicapped ones. If monk also declines to help, would that be called as ...
0
votes
1answer
30 views
Compassion Meditation's Efficiency
In compassion meditation (metta-bhavana), does the strength of the effect depend mainly on concentration? Or are there other factors involved as well?
Thank you.
1
vote
3answers
87 views
"true love", compassion and suffering
According to Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, "true love" has four elements:
Loving kindness: this produces a lot of joy and happiness.
Compassion: it makes us and the other people suffer less.
Joy: "If ...
3
votes
4answers
125 views
Are loving-kindness and compassion (metta and karuna) special kind of attachments?
To alleviate someone from suffering, Buddhism teaches one to practice mettā
karuṇā. But it seems to me that to thinking good about someone and wish them the best, we need to have a better version of ...
1
vote
4answers
78 views
Immediate Remedies to Judgmental Thoughts
I had previously asked a question about contempt. Since then, I noticed a few things, such as that it's not easy for me to 'cancel' out analytically my judgment of others. If I try to question my ...
1
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5answers
115 views
Inauthentic Compassion and Friendship
When I meditate on compassion, afterwards there is a post-meditative effect of making me kinder, but usually in a way that doesn't benefit me. It makes me want to rekindle friendships that were not ...
1
vote
1answer
31 views
Analysis and Compassion
I understand that compassion meditation uses in great part feeling and the generation of affect. I wonder: Are there aspects of compassion only accessible through meditating on compassion analytically?...
1
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3answers
61 views
Pride and Compassion
I have read in psychological studies that oxytocin and serotonin interact to produce social rewards. Serotonin has been postulated to relate to authentic pride (a positive kind of pride based on ...
3
votes
3answers
531 views
What is the view of Buddhism in correcting others' view in spite of their willingness to accept it?
I have these questions:
If an enlightened mind sees that helping someone is beneficial to them, then would they do it even when the helped doesn't proactively ask?
If they are hated by the helped, ...
2
votes
3answers
104 views
Fearful of Compassion
I started practising compassion meditation, and initially it worked very well. Yet, I feel more averse to it than initially, and when I meditate I sometimes experience a kind of distorted facial ...
0
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2answers
80 views
Gratitude, Movement and Compassion
I noticed all the emotions mentioned in the title have a certain similarity. Does Buddhism talk about movement or gratitude?
Similarly, movement seems to occur spontaneously, but gratitude and ...
0
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2answers
99 views
Has any Buddhist ever talked about postponing Buddhahood forever, but not for all sentient beings?
Has any Buddhist ever talked about postponing Buddhahood forever, but not for all sentient beings?
I do not, I suppose, mean because the "bodhisattva" enjoys life. I am trying to ask about "...
1
vote
1answer
45 views
Compassion's Unity
My question is two-fold.
First, I believe that metta is classified as a meditation object involving concentration. Yet, in this study, researchers suggest it is a mixture of focused attention (e.g. ...
3
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2answers
98 views
Compassion and Motivation
I wondered today whether compassion is an antidote to a kind of lack of motivation, given that it remedies fear in the suttas, and often approach and avoidance are seen as opposite (e.g. fight or ...
1
vote
1answer
47 views
Loving-Kindness for Concentration
In meditation, I seem to have great difficulty with the breath. Having some stability and mindfulness, but very little concentration, vividness and sharpness.
However, loving-kindness works for me ...
3
votes
2answers
119 views
Friendship and Compassion
I've realized that that I don't feel much friendliness for a person which I considered my friend previously. At the level of friendship, things are not the same.
Yet, this person has done nothing ...
1
vote
1answer
66 views
Buddha's Comment on Compassion Meditation
I think I recall reading about the Buddha saying that compassion meditation was far superior to compassionate action, hundreds (or some great number) times more. Is this accurate? What is the source ...
6
votes
5answers
699 views
How do you talk to someone whose loved one is dying?
What can you say to someone whose loved one (e.g. spouse or parent) is dying?
Assume if you can that in the West, e.g. Europe and America, although people (strangers) might have heard the first thing ...
3
votes
1answer
43 views
Emotion in Compassion Meditation
I have a very simple question. Sometimes, I visualize in compassion meditation without feeling anything for the whole session. Sometimes, I feel a lot of affect and start even crying.
Should one ...
3
votes
3answers
306 views
Is the Buddhist path one of 'selfless offering' or 'inner kindness'?
Just expanding on this answer is the Buddhist path one of 'selfless offering of oneself and efforts' or of 'inner kindness' i.e. kindness to oneself. Or is it both or neither. I've come across both ...
1
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4answers
119 views
Should/Would the Noble Sangha let go of the Dhamma?
Supposed that respect, veneration and any kind of wisdom has gone missing; and that the Sangha has become a group of householder wearing robes; and the leaders of the Sasana are all but householders. ...
2
votes
2answers
245 views
Lovingkindness and Compassion of the Buddha?
In an effort to understand the concept of lovingkindness it would help me to see how the Buddha explicitly described lovingkindness and specific acts of his unconditional compassion. I've heard from ...
4
votes
5answers
120 views
Feeling versus Analysis in Compassion Meditation
I believe I have read within the Dalai Lama's works that there exists (at least) two kinds of compassion meditation:
Generating the four abodes within oneself, in a more concentrative and affective ...
3
votes
4answers
136 views
How is one supposed to be compassionate and 100% free of suffering while others are suffering?
How is this possible besides if one simply doesn't mind if others are suffering?
But if one truly doesn't mind whether others are suffering or not isn't that a lack of compassion? Is one supposed to ...
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5answers
129 views
What are The Buddha's most compassionate acts?
Source could be from sutras or anything else. Thank you.
2
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2answers
61 views
Is it correct to say that true compassion (not trying to be) only manifest when there is wisdom?
That is to say that wisdom must come first before compassion.
3
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8answers
2k views
How to avoid apathy in the absence of self?
I have noticed in my meditation / mindfulness practice the following: as the idea of self dissolves, the ideas of compassion, happiness, sorrow, and basically everything that a "person" might ...
0
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4answers
159 views
If you cannot can save others then why is your practice more worthy than anything else?
If you have doubts on whether your practice (i.e. of the Eightfold Path) will free anyone from saṁsāra in your lifetime, then what reasons can you give for why your practice should take precedence ...
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5answers
285 views
are mundane acts of compassion meaningful?
Did the Buddha say anything of the value of mundane acts of generosity which may temporarily alleviate the suffering of others in a temporary, worldly way, but do not free others from from suffering?
...
3
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3answers
104 views
How important is motivation in determining the virtue/non-virtue of a karmic action?
I ask this question because I assumed the importance of motivation being paramount in determining the virtue/non-virtue of karmic action was widely shared among all traditions. Anyway, I'd like to ...
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5answers
137 views
What do ethical conduct (sila) and compassion have to do with the cessation of dukkha?
As I understand the Third Noble Truth, the cessation of dukkha is brought about by ending craving. I can see how, for example, practicing renunciation, or seeing no self, assist us in achieving this, ...
3
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4answers
603 views
Dhamma makes one dispassionate then how can one be compassionate?
Namo Buddhaya. After practicing Dhamma one becomes dispassionate. However Buddha says one should cultivate and practice Compassion. So am I not killing my own profit of dispassion by compassion?
My ...
2
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3answers
109 views
Judgment, Stereotyping, and Empathic Compassion
I am somewhat curious, following an answer to a previous question of mine, as to why understanding a person's background might inhibit judging them in a stereotypical way. I perceived this in my ...
1
vote
3answers
113 views
Most effective meditation techniques to develop empathy, love and compassion for others?
I feel like a very cold and sensual person. Easily attracted to sensual pleasure but very cold and numb when it comes to bonding with other human beings. I want to change, and therefore I want to make ...
3
votes
3answers
164 views
Compassion is a result of knowledge. But what about Courage?
We are all suffering. This knowledge results in compassion. Buddha was compassionate. And courageous too.
My question is : Is there any aspect of knowledge which results in courage?
3
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5answers
263 views
Are the physicists suffering?
Physicists are scientist who study the reality and draw conclusions about it scientifically. After studying what Buddha said it appears to me that Physicists are trapped in a wrong world. They believe ...
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4answers
147 views
Not breaking the first precept vs. developing compassion
In Theravada, we have established that eating meat does not break the first precept in many Buddhism SE questions (for example, this question and other questions linked in its comments).
However, ...
