--- In kagyu@y..., "Ayrielle" <ayrielle@a...> wrote:

>
There has to be a limit to how we apply compassion, don't you
think? Or can compassion be applied without "rescuing" or changing
what is taking place?
>
> I don't think of compassion as "feeling sorry" or "pitty" for
someone...to me it is more of an empathy...
>


Altuism with reference to individuals, or even groups of beings, is
laudable, and certainly is associated with compassion in its normal
sense.

But the compassion we should all be trying to generate, and the only
real "compassion" which serves our purposes (liberating all beings
from Samsara), is nonreferential compassion, the compassion without
reference point. The best approximation to this compassion, for
those of us not passed beyond dualistic distinctions between self
and other, is the compassion which arises when we realize that all
beings, including ourselves, suffer entirely due to their mistaken
clinging to such dualistic view. Due to our ignorance, we continue
to think in terms of self vs. other, USA vs. China, Tibet Vs. China,
or what-have-you. We should certainly do what we can to allay our
own and other's temporary suffering, but I would suggest that our
focus should be on developing our accumulations of merit and wisdom,
through our practice of meditation and the other paramitas. It may
take a bit longer (!), but only through perfecting our accumulations
can we experience the truly liberating compassion, the compassion
beyond words, beyond reference point, and beyond dualism.

Compassionate action which focuses on a dualistic reference point
may be part of perfecting our accumulations, but it is hard to say
for certain whether the results of such actions are meritorious in
the first place. Boycotts and political action are temporary, and
their effects are uncertain, as others have already discussed. On
the other hand, practice according to one's teacher's instructions
has "permanent" benefit, and the effects of such practice are
certain.

Use your time and energy wisely.

Best,
Cone