On Buddhist Compassion
by Khenpo Tashi
There are times when we will lose interest in Buddhist practices, such as Taking Refuge, generating Bodhicitta, purification of Karma, and so on.
We might doubt what we’re doing is any good. We might think of helping the poor, the sick, or improve something in society. Something more practical. These are very noble. We will earn a lot of merit and positive Karma through these ways.
But, Buddhist compassion is bigger than these activities, ok? Compassion in Buddhism is not just for the poor or for those who need immediate help. We can say that compassion in Buddhism is for all sentient beings – the hell beings, the hungry ghosts, those small animals that we cannot even see and we step on them, gods, demi-gods, and uncountable ones.
How many hell beings are there? It is said that if the humans are like dust on a person’s fingernail, the number of hell beings are like the sands on earth. Try to count the sands there. Their sufferings last for thousands of years, every hour of each day! Also, they suffer much more, millions of times more pain.
How can we even help them? Recite Om Mani Peme Hung (Chenrezig’s Mantra), Om Benza Sato Hung (Vajrasattva’s Mantra), and really, deeply generate Bodhicitta and supplicate to these Buddhas until one is about to cry. These are our past mothers. Don’t forget them, ok?
That is compassion in Buddhism. Why must we extend our compassion to all sentient beings? Because each one has the precious Buddha-nature. Each one is also the object of compassion of Buddhas.