Compassion is defined in Buddhist teaching as the trembling or quivering of the heart in response to seeing pain or suffering. Alone with love and altruism, compassion can be seen as warm-heartedness replacing cynicism, beneficence taking the place of indifference, caring supplanting aloofness. The Dalai Lama, whose life has not been easy, has said, "The reason I am pretty happy is because of the force of compassion. Compassion makes me feel at one with everyone."
There is no there anywhere, no destination, only ways through, passages, resting spots, doors that swing open to where a vision is hammered out, painted, written, sung or prayed behind the facade of the common.
~ from ALL THE DAYS OF MY LIFE by Marv and Nancy Hiles
