Compassion means to “suffer with” or, at least, to have sympathy for those who suffer. As activists whose hearts have been opened and as people who have borne witness to some of the worst atrocities human beings have ever committed, we are faced with an extraordinary challenge and opportunity.
By opening our hearts to all beings we simultaneously align ourselves with the Love Energy of God or one could call it the Divine Life Force that dwells in all. Yet, in doing so, the suffering of the animals, the earth, and exploited human beings catches up to us and can feel absolutely overwhelming. It can cause us to consider trying to forget about it all even though we know there is no turning back—not really. But it is the heart that is wounded and broken by its “suffering with” that has within it the seed of Awakening and the power to “be the change.”
How do we live with this? Is there a way to stay in balance, to stay aligned with Life and Love, to demonstrate the joy of being connected and truly alive without falling apart daily with each new revelation of cruelty and violence?
We need tools to keep our balance. Some of these include: pacing ourselves; allowing ourselves time to celebrate life and time to mourn; meditation; physical exercise; finding a community online and at home of vegans dedicated to nonviolence; dedicating ourselves to a specific action or actions that give us a sense of “doing something” and yet remaining unattached to the outcome; spiritual reading that is uplifting; spending time each day looking at something beautiful and being in nature feeling the heartbeat of earth through our bare feet (unless, of course, it’s really cold).
We are bombarded with ads and signs and news that promote cruelty and violence, and that can drag us into the abyss of seeing only that. It is essential that we not contract our hearts. For example, every time we see a barbque sign with a smiling pig with a fork in his hand on it, instead of getting angry and disgusted, let us think of the happy pigs living in peaceful sanctuaries and say a loving prayer for all the others. Loving thoughts from our hearts will heal this world.
Let us always remember, we are now in alignment with the Unconditional Love of the Universe. From that sacred place, we can rise above personal pain and do what we came here to do.
With Love, peace, and gratitude from Judy
By opening our hearts to all beings we simultaneously align ourselves with the Love Energy of God or one could call it the Divine Life Force that dwells in all. Yet, in doing so, the suffering of the animals, the earth, and exploited human beings catches up to us and can feel absolutely overwhelming. It can cause us to consider trying to forget about it all even though we know there is no turning back—not really. But it is the heart that is wounded and broken by its “suffering with” that has within it the seed of Awakening and the power to “be the change.”
How do we live with this? Is there a way to stay in balance, to stay aligned with Life and Love, to demonstrate the joy of being connected and truly alive without falling apart daily with each new revelation of cruelty and violence?
We need tools to keep our balance. Some of these include: pacing ourselves; allowing ourselves time to celebrate life and time to mourn; meditation; physical exercise; finding a community online and at home of vegans dedicated to nonviolence; dedicating ourselves to a specific action or actions that give us a sense of “doing something” and yet remaining unattached to the outcome; spiritual reading that is uplifting; spending time each day looking at something beautiful and being in nature feeling the heartbeat of earth through our bare feet (unless, of course, it’s really cold).
We are bombarded with ads and signs and news that promote cruelty and violence, and that can drag us into the abyss of seeing only that. It is essential that we not contract our hearts. For example, every time we see a barbque sign with a smiling pig with a fork in his hand on it, instead of getting angry and disgusted, let us think of the happy pigs living in peaceful sanctuaries and say a loving prayer for all the others. Loving thoughts from our hearts will heal this world.
Let us always remember, we are now in alignment with the Unconditional Love of the Universe. From that sacred place, we can rise above personal pain and do what we came here to do.
May all beings, including all people, be happy and free.
With Love, peace, and gratitude from Judy
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