The Practice of Radical Compassion and belonging as a path forward.
I grew up Catholic. As a young child of about 7 years of age going to catholic school, I recall questioning some of the teachings; particularly around the idea of “original sin.” This doctrine suggested that we enter the world as flawed beings, tainted by sin. The idea of not being born whole struck me not only as confusing but as judgmental.
This questioning eventually led me to explore other faith traditions in my early twenties. I was most drawn to the teachings of the Buddha. In stark contrast to the notion of being born tainted as a sinner, I learned that the Buddha believed our basic nature was of an open mind and a soft heart. At the root of the teachings seemed to be this desire to alleviate suffering so that we could all return home to our basic nature.
In his book Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion, Gregory Boyle shares a poignant insight…
The minute you understand what it is that people carry you stand in awe at what folks are carrying rather than in judgment at how they carry it.
Boyle advocates for a compassionate stance urging us to see beyond behaviors to the underlying pain and unshakeable goodness-our basic nature- within each individual. “You imagine a circle of compassion and then imagine nobody standing outside of that circle.”
Compassion transcends judgment.
Galway Kinnell, the poet, captures this sentiment beautifully with his words, "Sometimes it's necessary to reteach a thing its loveliness." This reminds us of the importance of recognizing and affirming the inherent worth and goodness within each person, irrespective of their outward circumstances or actions. In my own journey, I’m understanding more and more that my work in the world is simply to guide people towards remembering their own inherent loveliness.
I recognize this is not easy. We are human. I mess up all the time. This is a practice of catching myself, and beginning again.
How do we cultivate this radical compassion?
First, by recognizing that compassion makes room for everybody and that we all belong to each other, as emphasized by Mother Teresa. This belief in the inclusivity of belonging holds newfound significance for me, personally, as well as in today's fractured world.
Secondly, we don’t seek to cure or fix anyone but rather care for each other. Serving others is good but it’s only a start. We recognize ourselves in the other person. We continually remember the truth of our “unshakeable goodness” that exists in each and every one of us.
We practice self-compassion and acceptance. By acknowledging and allowing all parts of ourselves to belong, especially our wounds, we become better equipped to extend compassion to others. If we can’t love our own wounds we risk unconsciously not being able to love the wounded. This compassionate stance, like salve on a hopeless heart, has the power to heal and create true kinship.
Ultimately, it's through embodying our own unshakeable goodness that we can recognize and nurture it in others. This, I believe, is the path to fostering profound love and empathy in our interactions, thereby shaping a more harmonious world where everyone feels valued and included. It's a reminder that we are all worthy of belonging to each other, and it's through this unity that true change can occur.
Photo Credit: Tim Mossholder
