Avoid the Death of Compassion

Be careful that you protect yourself from the death of your empathy (also known as compassion). As a troubled man in my youth, with a serious diagnosis, surrounded on all sides by sin, I came very close to this. It is imperative that you avoid emotionally damaging situations, because they will cause you suffering, and the more you suffer the closer you are to choosing this “death” out of self preservation. Often, abused children and traumatized people choose this because they know no way out of the chaos that surrounds them. It is akin to choosing total apathy, but more serious than just frustration; if you’ve met people like this then you know that they only spread that same suffering.

Stay close to your practice when you feel like your sufferings are becoming too great. I don’t know how powerful the mercy of God chooses to be, but apathy is definitely not a good way to start out your life. I mentioned  before that I’ve had a few “snapshots“ of a couple of my previous lifetimes. I was one of these people in my most recent life. However, I want to point out that my karma from that life has made this life very very difficult, so…Meditation, medication, and the present moment are your greatest tools against succumbing to this apathy, especially for our SPMI friends.

Know yourself, and know God. Hold your dear soul close. If you keep yourself from corruption, you can know Zen… The Buddha didn’t speak much as far as I know about this specifically, but he did warn of hell. Apathy is what most of the religions of the world are fighting, be sure to do no harm because you don’t know how close someone is to choosing this “way out”. Perhaps this is why Christ told us to pray for our enemies.

Don’t worry, you will KNOW if you choose this, but it’s more common than you might think. From personal experience, I believe this is a choice. The only people that are separate are those that truly choose the death of compassion. Of course Jesus blessed the “poor in spirit” too, so hope is not necessarily lost. The beauty of the human soul is its vulnerability, balanced by its determination, so keep your eyes on true liberation.

“Be kind, for everyone you meet faces a mighty battle.” - Philo of Alexandria.

“All of the hardest, coldest people you meet, were once soft as water.

That is the tragedy of living.” - Iain Thomas