Sign of Universal Compassion -His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet

All kinds of happiness and sadness are mainly of two types. They are both physically and mentally. Mental happiness and sadness affect us the most among these. Physical suffering does not affect us strongly unless we are seriously ill and we are not suffering from a lack of the essentials of life. If the body is in good health, we forget the minor physical pains we feel.

However, the mind records everything. All events are marked in the mind, despite the level of their importance. Therefore, we should always try as much as possible to do what can bring mental happiness.

My personal experience is that we can achieve mental happiness by cultivating love and compassion in our hearts. The more we genuinely care about others, the better things will happen to us. As much as we try to inculcate optimism and wholeheartedness towards others in our hearts, our mind starts to become peaceful. If there is any fear or a feeling of insecurity in our mind, it will be suppressed through this exercise. Further, we can easily find answers to various mental problems that arise within us. It is the factor that makes our life a success.

As long as we live in this world, we have to face various problems. In such cases, if we lose hope and become discouraged, the strength to face those problems will be lost in us. On the other hand, you and I are not the only ones facing problems and suffering. All animals experience this. A person who understands this reality gets the strength to face the problems that arise in life and bear the sufferings with understanding. If we develop this valuable attitude, we can contribute to the exercise of having a good mentality in future problems and troubles. It can be used as a valuable opportunity to practice how to maintain a good state of mind. We must practice gradually the habit of spreading compassion. It should be genuine, and unconditional, with the intention of suppressing other’s pain and sorrow. As a result, you will experience how your mind is getting cleared, peaceful, and happy.

Finally, if we ask why love and compassion bring us happiness, it is because we naturally like and appreciate love, compassion, and wholeheartedness. Every human being has a need for love and compassion. They are essential for human existence. If we all need love, kindness, compassion and wholeheartedness, why don’t we share it? No matter how strong and energetic a person is, he or she cannot live alone. One cannot exist in loneliness. When we are sad, unwell, or aged, everyone needs help of another person. Therefore, let’s all share kindness, mercy, and wholeheartedness.

© satipatthana magazine

Adapted from www.dalailama.com by Dr. Shermila Milroy