Compassion

Rev. Arlene S. Meyer
Sep 24
2 min read

His Holiness, the Dalai Lama

One of my favorite spiritual teachers is His Holiness, the Dalai Lama. When asked once about his religion, he replied, "My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness." Above all, he emphasized the importance of kindness and compassion toward others. The Dalai Lama described compassion as “love, affection, kindness, gentleness, generosity of spirit and warm-heartedness….” He also said that “When someone possesses such traits, they do not go into a personal encounter seeking something for themselves. They go in with the intention of serving that person in some way, especially if that person is suffering.” Those of us who know people like that are fortunate. People who live with such compassion make the world a better place for others.

Practice and Imagine Compassion

I was blessed to have been married to such a person, and for the 30 years we spent together, I saw someone living a life of service, kindness, and love. Not only did he touch many lives, but every time I saw such compassion, I felt blessed as well. When we serve not out of pity or superiority, but from a sincere desire to give love and kindness as equals, we practice compassion in the way the Dalai Lama describes. Imagine a world where everyone treats others with authentic compassion. While we can't change everyone, we can change ourselves. We can choose each day to treat others as we would like to be treated—with genuine kindness and service.