This World Just Needs a Little More Compassion

 

One day as I sat discussing my health problems with my doctor, I got the sense that he didn’t take me seriously. He made me feel that I was just a child and my views on the problems were not helpful. He was known as the best diagnostician in town, but my little 8 year old heart left that doctor’s office crushed. From then on I dreaded the doctor, not because of shots or exams but because of the doctor’s “bedside manner.” Because of that day, I didn’t want to only be a doctor, I wanted to be a loving and caring doctor, a doctor that was sympathetic to the feelings of her patients. But, this compassion shouldn’t be found in just medicine but in every facet of life.

 

1 Doctors Should Provide Comfort, Not Doubt

 

Rinpoche describes human nature as inherently good. “If we examine any person’s character closely, we can always find something kind and positive. If we look even more closely, we will discover that these compassionate qualities are intrinsic – they are inherently present in the mind of every person” (Rinpoche 20). All humans, though “good and evil appear to flourish together” (Rinpoche 19), have the ability to help and show concern for others. What is it then stops us from actually doing good when we are predisposed for it? It is our own ambition, time and feelings that usually come before those of others. However, I do not think that we usually make a conscious choice to be rude to a person or purposefully hurt their feelings. Granted there are those that seek revenge or seek to hurt someone that has hurt them, malice isn’t at the forefront of the human heart. We don’t choose to be hateful, we just lack experience on how to be delicate in situations or how to show compassion.

 

2 Mother Theresa Practiced the Art of Universal Love and Compassion

 

The Dove chocolate that I just opened says inside the wrapper “A gentle touch speaks volumes.” This “gentle touch,” this compassion goes beyond words. But how do we get there? How do we get to the point that everything that comes out of our mouth is love? The answer: practice. Rinpoche says that “unless we train ourselves, unless we put our heart into being that way, [compassion] will not develop. We need to train in developing our loving-kindness and compassion so that it eventually expresses itself without any prejudice or limitations” (Rinpoche 22). Every time you feel the urge to say something that does not edify others, hold your tongue and be kind. It sounds simple, so why isn’t this world just one big ball of love?

 

3 The Practice of Compassion Can Lead to Universal Love

 

Our loving human nature combined with practice is a way for us to cultivate the “universal love” (in Bump 114) or ahimsa. Once kindness knows no limitations, we are free to practice the art of selfless service. We can give of ourselves to help others. “Where there is ahimsa, you will find love and selfless service” (in Bump 114), and where there is compassion you will find human beings working to make a difference in this world.

 

4 We Need to Strive for Ahimsa