In the realm of Malkhut, there is only one kind of compassion — it is fully informed by the energies of all sefirot above, and it is fully manifested in the world. In other words, it is Compassion in Action. Which just happens to be the title of a book by one of my Queer Jubu Heroes, Baba Ram Dass (co-written with Mirabai Bush).
So for this day of Compassion in Action, some quotes from Ram Dass and Mirabai Bush on the subject:
Compassion refers to the arising in the heart of the desire to relieve the suffering of all beings.
When our hearts open, when we know that we are in fact the world, when we experience the pain of others in our own blood and muscle, we are feeling compassion.
Whether our compassionate action is done alone or in a group, inner exploration remains the complement to external action, and, with time and patience, it can lead to clearer awareness, action and more integrity, and a freer flow of the heart's breath.
By acting compassionately, by helping to restore justice and to encourage peace, we are acknowledging that we are all part of one another.
Choose your path of action, have it come from a place of love. And start small, but do it consistently. Just like this practice of counting the Omer.
And by the way, for those of you who haven't seen the photography exhibit on Queer Spirit at the LGBT Center, there is a portrait of the good Dr. Richard Alpert, aka Ram
Dass, on the wall in the good company of other great men of spirit. If you don't know his story, it's a wild one, starting at Harvard with Timothy Leary and the search for transcendence through psychedelics. But as Leary lost himself in drugs, Alpert left him behind to continue his search for transcendence in India, where he met the spiritual teacher who gave him the path that has enabled him to experience the transcendence he sought earlier though unskillful means, this time, grounded in the reality of everyday experience. Since then he has devoted his life to teaching and service. A few years ago he suffered a debilitating stroke, but has made learning to live with and recover from its effects part of his practice, thus becoming an example for all who suffer and struggle with illness.
I must admit to being somewhat resentful for years that Ram Dass wasn't publicly out. And when he did come out, it wasn't quite the statement I wanted, though I had to agree with the spiritual message he was delivering. But that's my issue, my attachment to my views. There is no question that he is a great teacher. Go see his portrait, along with the others, while you can, the exhibit is up through this weekend. And take action — be an inner activist and do your work in the world.
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