The Brahmaviharas:

Compassion (Karuna)

Part 1 – Bearing Witness

by Reishin Denise Leong

The Brahma Viharas, also called the Four Immeasurables or the four Divine Abodes, are the mental states where Enlightened beings abide.  For us not-yet-Enlightened beings, they are the aspirational attitudes we hope to cultivate our daily lives.

The Four Brahma Viharas are loving kindness (metta), compassion (karuna), sympathetic joy (mudita), and equanimity (upekkha). 

This month, we will consider the Second Immeasurable – compassion (karuna). The word compassion comes from the Latin “passio,” which means “to suffer” and “com,” which means “with” so compassion is to “suffer with.” In our practice, compassion also includes the wish to alleviate suffering, the first of our Awakened One’s Vows.

Kwan Yin, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, hears the cries of the world and is sometimes depicted with a thousand arms; in the palm of each hand, there is an eye to see suffering clearly and objects that will relieve every type of suffering. For those of us less well equipped, how can we bear witness to the endless suffering in the world, the First Noble Truth, without being overwhelmed? 

Practice.

First, our disciplined Rinzai Zen practice instructs us not to look away and to be with whatever arises, including our fears and discomfort. Acceptance of all, just as it is… not as we want it to be or think it should be.

Add to this, Beginner’s Mind or Don’t Know Mind where everything is fresh and new, where we have let go of fixed views, judgments, and opinions. We really don’t know what is going to happen next– imagine that freedom!

If we then remember and choose to abide in Pure Awareness, our Clear Deep Heart Mind, where we are spacious and open, fearless and peaceful, we are better able to be with the suffering without personal distress, listening without an opinion.

Finally, we can acknowledge our fears and unease; we need to welcome them in like Rumi’s “Guest House” and explore the feelings as well as the messages beneath them – our emotional koans. We will ultimately discover that deep caring underlies them all.

“Courage is not the absence of fear, but the judgment that there is something more important than one’s fear.” – Ambrose Redmoon

This sense of deep caring can be our motivation for being fully present with those who are suffering so that, most importantly, they are not alone. This is a powerful act of care, a way to remind them that they are seen, heard, and loved, not abandoned during a vulnerable time. Simply being present with their pain can provide immense comfort and emotional relief. The enduring and intimate connections made when we are a compassionate companion are crucial steps in healing and transforming a world filled with despair and loneliness.

We hope you will take time this month to explore these resources on Bearing Witness and Not Knowing, foundational practices in being a compassionate presence for others and actualizing our Bodhisattva Vow. The benefits are immeasurable.

May I become at all times, both now and forever
A protector of those without protection
A guide for those who have lost their way
A ship for those with oceans to cross
A bridge for those with rivers to cross
A sanctuary for those in danger
A lamp for those without light
A place of refuge for those who lack shelter
And a servant to all in need.
For as long as space endures,
And for as long as living beings remain,
Until then may I, too, abide
To dispel the misery of the world.
 -Shantideva

Resources

(Lion’s Roar may require a subscription ($6/month or $36/year)

Books

Bearing Witness: A Zen Master’s Lesson in Making Peace by Bernie Glassman

Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind by Shunryu Suzuki

Articles

How to Practice Bearing Witness: A three-step practice to connect with and serve those who are suffering – Jules Shuzen Harris (Lion’s Roar)

The Three Tenets – Bernie Glassman

On Bearing Witness and the Resilience of Karuna – Jessica Angina

How to Follow the Bodhisattva Path Without Burning Out – Radhule Weininger

The Nature of Fear – Joseph Goldstein (Lion’s Roar)

The Wisdom of Not Knowing – Jack Kornfield

Not Knowing – Gil Fronsdal

The Discomfort of Compassion – Constance Kassor

Podcasts (Transcripts available)

Practicing with Fear in Buddhism – Zen Studies (29:17)

Bearing Witness: Exposing Ourselves to the Suffering of the World – Zen Studies (23:00)

The Practice of Not-Knowing: Relief, Intimacy, and Ground for Effective Action – Zen Studies (34:59)

Videos

Changing Your Heart Towards Pain – Pema Chodron (19:02)
Bearing Witness – Roshi Pat Enkyo O’Hara (28:01)