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Trinity of Compassion: Mindfulness, Wisdom, Power
Compassion is a conscious willingness to 1) endure with another their suffering, and then 2) to alleviate the suffering by using the most appropriate means possible, and 3) in ways that preserve the dignity of all involved (meaning you need to have an ethical position about how to be in relationship — for more on this, listen to Thupten Jinpa). Which means that compassion is neither an emotion, nor a behaviourial trait, nor an intention. From this description, I hope it is evident that it takes alot of courage and skills to be compassionate.
Mindfulness being the ability to sustain focus in the ‘now-ness’ of the present moment. Wisdom being the clarity of perception that reveals the essence of the moment. Power being the ability to take action. Only when all three are activated at the same time may we truly contribute to the well-being and flourishing of another human being. Very quickly, let’s dive a little deeper into what I’ve learnt (measurable in tears, therapy sessions, relationships pushed to the brink) is needed to activate each of the three elements.
Mindfulness
