Gain Clarity - Increase Compassion

               Gain Clarity - Increase Compassion       Ron Alexander

                              Feeling Confused? Hypnotized? Isolated?

Byron Katie says that “confusion is the basis of all suffering”.   Ernest Holmes maintained that most of us are hypnotized, “because it thinks what somebody else told it what to think”. Buddha taught us that our thinking is the basis of our suffering. Of course, early programming by our parents and others as do newspapers, radio, television, books, our economic class, our gender and our race.  Many of us base at least part of our thinking based on our religious education. Some of us, who are deeply entrenched in our religious beliefs, think almost exclusively from that orientation. All these different sources of our beliefs usually lead to “isms” – schisms – nationalism, patriotism, racism, classism - a feeling of being different, feeling separate.

Our country, USA, has been known for it’s individualistic, frontier-type “cowboy” (John Wayne), libertarian (Ayn Rand) mentality. This is contrary to a way of thinking that values unity/community. Another way of looking at this is labeled independent or interdependent thinking. I think balance between the two is the road to clarity. However, awareness in the moment, of what type of mental process you are going through is vital. Interdependence thinking can lead to, less competitiveness, more compassion with more feeling of unity. On the other hand, independent clarity can lead to staying out of  destructive “mob mentality”.

Clarity to me is being aware of our independent thinking, so valued in this culture – valuing it, yet knowing that it can be destructive if unaware of interdependent mentality.  We do want to be a part of a constructive inclusive community yet be independent of exclusive mob mentality.  Importantly, to have compassion for others. we need to start with the compassion  for ourselves. Loving kindness has to start with ourselves. Love thyselves – as Jesus taught us “love thy neighbors, as THYSELVES.”

 

Buddha taught to end our suffering by watching our thinking and acting that escalate our ignorance and confusion. He taught us to aspire to dissolve the myth that we are separate.

 

Awareness of our inherent oneness leads us to realize all hatred is self-hatred, as all love is self-love. Clarity is awareness of our inner-connectedness – that nothing can separate us and that inherent goodness is our nature as Love is the Essence of our Being.

Byron Katie developed “The Work” an inquiry/turnaround process (see below) to help us end confusion, decrease judgment therefore increasing compassion.

 

Ernest Holmes developed a Science of Mind philosophy that endeavors to clear our mind of pre-conceived beliefs, that our minds can be renewed. He taught that we can have positive changes to our lives with affirmative prayer and “that love can heal all hate”.

 

 Buddhist nun Pema Chodron teaches “on the spot compassion”:  “I do this sort of thing in all kinds of situations – at the breakfast table, in the meditation hall, at the dentist’s office. Standing at the line in the market, I might notice a defiant teenager and make the aspiration, ‘may he be free of suffering and its causes.’ In the elevator with a stranger, I might notice her shoes, her hands, the expression on her face. I contemplate that just like me, she doesn’t want stress in her life. Just like me, she worries. Through our hopes and fears, our pleasures and pains, we are deeply interconnected.”