Others

The most difficult step to compassion can be practicing the awareness that others can have a completely different reality from the reality you assume to be universal. This understanding in every moment and every human contact requires the mindfulness of Bodhisattva, if not Buddha, mind. The misery of the current human condition is magnified by the widespread lack of interest in fostering this kind of mindfulness in the human mind. 'Spreading freedom' is a good example of this on a massive scale. The American President cannot possibly seek mindfulness and compassion. If he were to seek mindfulness and compassion, he would immediately take American soldiers out of Iraq. He would understand that the vague 'freedom' he intends to spread by violence is not freedom but more human suffering. So we can see mindfulness and compassion or their absence once we begin to seek them. This is the benefit of practice. We can then focus our energies on those who can help us with our quest for enlightenment and world peace. And we can turn from those committed to lies, violence and human suffering in order to satisfy their greed.