What is compassion?

Compassion is a deep awareness of and sympathy for the suffering of all beings and the wish to free all beings from suffering. Compassion is loving kindness demonstrated through actions and words that communicate care, consideration and tenderness. To live life from a place filled with compassion is to respect all life, living free of prejudice, and making choices in life not to cause suffering in other humans or other beings.

In the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali encourages aspiring yogis to cultivate compassion or “karuna” a Pali word that means "a quivering of the heart in response to a being's pain." On a daily basis, we encounter endless opportunities to cultivate compassion for the beings we encounter in our lives, from a friend going through hard times in need of an empathetic ear to choices we make with regard to our diet and what we consume in general.

Cultivating compassion in daily life

As a way of cultivating compassion in yourself, when you talk with friends, family or colleagues, listen objectively and try to honestly hear what they are saying. Even if a problem described by a friend may seem trite, try to feel empathy for their situation without judgment. Even try to find compassion with someone who may be acting in a displeasing manner, for example lashing out at the world through aggressive words or actions, by considering what might be behind the aggressive behavior. It is likely fear or some other form of suffering. Exercise compassionate consumerism, purchasing items that have not caused suffering to people or animals in the production process. For example, make sure shampoo or cosmetics you purchase were not tested on animals.

Practicing compassion in your yoga asana practice

One misconception is that compassion is only for other people. To have compassion for others, you must first have compassion for yourself. Yoga practice can provide a good opportunity to explore compassion for yourself. Some poses may come easily to you, while others are challenging to hold for even one breath. It can be easy to fall into negative self-talk along the lines of “oh I’ll never be any good at this pose” or “I simply can’t do this.” First, instead of indulging in such negative thoughts, recognize that you are doing your best and are thus exactly where you should be in your practice. Let go of comparing where you are in an asana to others or to the ‘ideal’ of the pose. Be aware of differences in your practice from day to day, and have compassion for the fact that some days you may have more energy or feel more limber, while other days you may move more slowly and feel less lithe. Honor where you are at in your practice, knowing when you have come up against your edge.          by Laura Ivers

Monthly Focus - August