Favorite Inspiring Quotes
My Favorite Inspiring Quotes
Compassion
Commentary by Peter Shepherd

“Once we have a firm practice of compassion our state of mind becomes stronger which leads to inner peace, giving rise to self-confidence, which reduces fear. This makes for constructive members of the community. Self-centeredness on the other hand leads to distance, suspicion, mistrust and loneliness, with unhappiness as the result.” ~ Dalai Lama
Compassion is an expression of unconditional love, our natural spiritual connectedness. There's no room in that state of being for fear to exist.
“We can remain in a state of love when we recognize that everyone is doing the best they can to get their needs met.” ~ Eckhart Tolle
As Marshall B. Rosenberg said, "What I want in my life is compassion, a flow between myself and others based on a mutual giving from the heart."
“Anger is like a storm rising up from the bottom of your consciousness. When you feel it coming, turn your focus to your breath. Breathe in deeply to bring your mind home to your body. Then look at, or think of, the person triggering this emotion: with mindfulness, you can see that they are unhappy and suffering. You can see their wrong perceptions. You'll feel motivated by a desire to say or do something to help the other person suffer less. This means compassionate energy has been born in your heart. And when compassion appears, anger is deleted.” ~ Thich Nhat Hanh
When someone won't listen or refuses to see your point of view, or just desn't care, then you can get angry... or you can recognize their right to be themselves and let it go. One way, you suffer, the other way you remain your mindful self. Real-life meditation.
“Differences in religious beliefs, politics, social status, and position are all secondary. When we look at someone with compassion, we are able to see beyond these secondary differences and connect to the primary essence that binds all humans together as one.” ~ Dalai Lama
Like the Hindu greeting "Namaste," which Ram Dass translates... "I honor the place in you in which the entire universe dwells. I honor the place in you which is of love, of truth, of light, and of peace. When you are in that place in you, and I am in that place in me, we are one." Wouldn't it be absolutely amazing if we could relate to every person who comes into our lives in this way?
“The only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve... The purpose of human life is to serve and to show compassion and the will to help others.” ~ Albert Schweitzer
Love, and loving service to our fellows, connects us so we do not live isolated lives and life becomes meaningful. Jesus once said that the care we offer to even the smallest child or the weakest old man is received as if it were offered to God. When societies and governments are no longer at the loving service of all people, then arrogance and exploitation risk snuffing out true human development and fulfillment. Only by loving and serving others, even with the simplest of gestures, will humanity regain a sense of happiness and hope. True communication leads to understanding, from which compassion naturally follows.

Here’s some further reading on this theme...
How to Become a Master of Compassion ~ by Jafree Ozwald
The Universe has a way of teaching us in the most mysterious ways. Throughout your life, you've most likely encountered experiences which made you feel stuck, lost, frustrated, or disappointed on some level. Then, just when you thought all hope was lost, some act of grace happened and life turned your situation around. You then experienced a feeling of relief, satisfaction, joy or just felt things were lighter for you in some way. Life is very intentional in the way its pendulum swings. When we get to taste sour lemons, it makes the lemonade even more succulent and sweet. Continues