Dear Sasha

Thank you for sharing your question with us.

It appears to me that there are two distinct phenomena at play in the world. One is cultivated compassion and the other is natural compassion.

Most major religious doctrines teach the former. They teach that it is in some way our 'duty' to be compassionate towards those 'less fortunate' than ourselves. Such teachings are almost certainly founded on good intentions, but I think there is a distinct possibility that those intentions will not be fulfilled in this way.

They reinforce the ideas of separation and comparison or judgement and also of compulsion and duty. You are a separate person. There are millions of other separate people, many of whom are 'less fortunate' than you are. It is your duty to do something to help those less fortunate people. Why? Because we say so!

Natural compassion, on the other hand, develops naturally out of an awareness of the fundamental interconnectedness of all things. It is not cultivated at all, but born out of a deep understanding that there is no real separation, that beyond separating and comparing thought, we are all One Being.

With this understanding, one does not look out for the welfare of 'others' because some scripture or philosopher has said it is the 'right' thing to do. One looks out for the welfare of 'others' because on the level of Oneness, the 'others' and you are not separate. They are you and you are them. You are naturally compelled to take care of other beings and the environment you share just as most parents are naturally compelled to take care of their children, with whom this connectedness is more obviously apparent.

I suggest that if you do not currently feel this interconnectedness, then cultivating compassion for others out of a sense of duty will not really help. First of all take care of yourself and your own happiness. Move away from thought and develop greater awareness. The more you do that, the more you will begin to genuinely feel your interconnectedness with all things and the more your natural compassion will develop. Steer clear of 'shoulds' and 'musts'. Natural compassion is as effortless and natural as breathing. There is no need to think about it. It simply becomes a part of you.

How should natural compassion be shown? There is that word 'should' again! That cannot really be answered, as every situation that arises is always unique. As my fine leonine friend Aslan says in Prince Caspian, 'Things never happen the same way twice.'

When we face each unique present moment without pre-conceived ideas of what is 'right' or 'wrong', powerful awareness will bring powerful response whenever it is needed. When it is not needed, there will be no response at all. This is essentially a form of allowing. By removing all pre-conceived ideas and refraining from discrimination and pre-judgement, however well intentioned they may be, we allow Existence to act through us naturally and to take care of all its intricately interconnected parts without the interference of separating and judgemental thought.

Trust Existence totally and feel all your effort and struggle melt away as you let go of thought's invented shoulds, musts, rights and wrongs.

Much love to you,

Happy Cow

<< Back to Sasha's letter

If you are in need of some advice and think Happy Cow may be able to help, please e-mail her at: advice@happycow.org.uk.

Join the Happy Cow Facebook Group!