Yessiree, compassion is not a feeling.
Sheng Yen challenged the assembly at times during discussions and
question/answer times, when he spoke of compassion. I practiced with him in
New York City, then later at the new retreat center upstate in Pine Bush, from
1979 until his death (well, he died in Taiwan in Feb., 2009).
I know many of his Western lay successors. Dr. Simon Child of Wales, a
Pediatrician, is a special close friend... if he remembers me at all. But I am
not a Dharma heir of Sheng Yen, just one of the dharma teachers in training
from among his earliest USA disciples. I do not have transmission (but, I
carry his dharma, and that of his sangha). Anyway, we are very close. ;-)
At times he'd mention in sangha discussions what he called "Idiot-Compassion"
(!), explaining that he means the sort of compassion that even an IDIOT -- a
person of low or clinically sub-normal mentality -- would extend or express to
others. And he'd contrast this with the compassion of a Bodhisattva, or of a
Buddha. But he observed that even an idiot would sometimes be more
compassionate than we students are at times. And yet, the idiot did not have
the proper kind of compassion going on, to be considered Buddhist compassion.
And by Buddhist compassion, those who had been with him a while knew that he
meant our original human compassion, which is just the left hand of Wisdom, or
the right hand, dunno. Can't separate. It's the same side of the same side.
;-)
He was very strong about making the distinction. He let many of us carry on in
discussion over these points for many minutes, with him. But the very mention
and ringing sound of "IDIOT-Compassion" had its effect on us.
He was a teacher like the famous old Ch'an masters of the Golden Age.
K'ung-ans, or koans, with him were not just the recorded ones, but were every
encounter (as, I think, they should be, if we can be lucky enough to be there).
I loved him in his earliest years in USA when he was very strong and powerful
and unrelenting in retreat, but he became very gentle in later years.
"Grandma!" ;-) I think, in all epochs, though, that he enlightened many
students, which is what counts. A lot of the effectiveness of his way was due
to the Ch'an physical practices. They open(-ed) us up. One has to practice
physically. Sitting itself is a physical practice. Others help to complement
it and complete it, or enable and potentiate it. What a package he taught.
Talk about compassion!
But he did not teach us to be, nor how to be, compassionate! He taught us how
to practice. Of course, on retreats, for example, he taught us how to keep a
low profile and not interfere with others, which is greatly compassionate; how
to enter rooms; how not to open doors for others (do not, on retreat); how to
keep yourself contained, and your sitting place neat. Well, all teachers teach
these things, they must.
"Look, even an IDIOT is compassionate; Practitioners must do better."
I recall instant-translations like that, by Ming-Yee Wang. Sheng Yen gave
talks and discussions in Chinese. We all learned it! Ming-Yee is still the
greatest translator, I think. He would listen for five minutes, and then
translate for five minutes. What a skill, and a clear mind! Mathematician,
trained at NYU, now in California.
Well, a bit old-timey, today. Key point is Idiot-Compassion versus what comes
naturally, when everything falls away, and everything is available. No
comparison!; but what a comparison.
Best,
--Joe
> Kristopher Grey <kris@...> wrote:
>
> Yes, pointing to this can get in the way of their whole Bodhisattva dream.
>
> I'd go as far to say compassion is a side effect/integral aspect of
> awakening. I'd say the same of equanimity. All aspects of this
> realization. In other words, it's not what someone thinks it is. [snip]
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