This week @ Beaches - Compassion without agenda

Compassion Without Agenda

Hi everyone. This week @ Beaches Sangha we have Sylvie giving a talk on one of our favourite topics - compassion. The term compassion comes from the Latin roots “cum”, which means “with”, and “passus”, which means “suffering”. So, to be compassionate, is to be able to “suffer with” and wishing all sentient beings to be free of suffering. Many times however, when we think that we are being compassionate, we aren’t. Our intention of wanting others to be “free of suffering” might be such that we are unable to actually “be with” their suffering more than a few seconds! In such times, we might eagerly take on the role of helper or expert. That becomes our agenda, whether we set it up consciously or not. We try to give advice or solve the other person’s problem. In doing so, we might feel quite good, but the other does not. In fact, they might feel diminished. Has that ever happened to you? This week, come and join Sylvie in an exploration of how we can be compassionate without agenda.

Also, this is the last call for anyone who'd like to attend this weekend's workshop: A Street Guide to Meditation & the Buddha's Teachings. There are only 3 places left, so please let me register a.s.a.p. if you'd like to come. (Mick, why isn't your name on this list? You're part of the reason I decided to run it!!)

See you Thursday.
LL