Understanding Is The Ground For Compassion
One of the basic teachings I offer when there are new folks attending the temple is the teaching of the Ten Wolds. I use this teaching to show how logical Buddhism is and how much sense it makes in helping us understand ourselves and the way we live.
As I offer this teaching I point out how this is not just some theory, nor is its sole purpose to help us understand our current condition, but how it can serve as a map.
Just as we now have GPS systems in our cars and phones to help us navigate from where we are to where we wish to be. The Ten Worlds can also aide us in moving from suffering to enlightenment.
First it helps to know where we are. When we can look honestly at our lives and the experiences we are encountering then we can identify what is the condition of our life. This is helpful of course. But we want to change our lives we want to eliminate suffering. In this case it is useful to know where we wish to go.
By examining the Ten Worlds we can see the qualities of the other worlds and then begin to put those qualities into practice.
Here is an example. The first of the worlds that lie outside of the lower realms of suffering is Humanity. I like to say this is a relatively neutral world, in that there isn’t much action, not like Learning, Contemplation, or Bodhisattva. Yet this is perhaps the easiest place to head to and one that can assist the further development of Bodhisattva.
When we can look at other people and realize that we are not alone in this Saha world we can then begin to realize that our sufferings are not in isolation. The world of humanity is not actively seeking to help others eliminate their suffering but it does acknowledge that suffering and the existence and feelings of others.
When we are in the midst of suffering it is easy to think that we are the only ones, or that we are victims and helpless to that suffering. But this isn’t the truth. We are not alone in either our suffering or in our existence.
In this way, by understanding first, we cultivate the ground upon which compassion can eventually blossom. We do not become compassionate for things we have no interest or awareness of. It is by first moving beyond our own suffering and becoming aware that others experience suffering that we can then move to compassion, or Bodhisattva.
“You, the World-Honored One, are the great benefactor. By doing this rare thing,
you taught and benefited us out of your compassion towards us.” (Lotus Sutra, Chapter IV)“Turn the wheel of the Dharma and save all living beings out of your compassion towards them!” (Lotus Sutra, Chapter VII)
