In November 2007, religious historian Karen Armstrong won the TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) award because of her many contributions that have made a profound difference in the world. Each recipient is given $100,000 and a wish for a better world.
So, three months later, when Armstrong accepted the award, she asked TED to help her create, launch, and propagate a Charter for Compassion that would be designed by prominent thinkers, philosophers, and leaders from a variety of different faiths. Its mission? To restore compassion to the heart of religious and moral life at a time of such flagrant violence and terrorism in the name of race and religion.
As I read through excerpts of Armstrong’s book, Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life, and reviewed her interview earlier this year with NPR’s Neal Conan, I was inspired by Armstrong’s ferocious passion and single-mindedness with which she is pursuing this dream of hers. Her charter embraces five key principles, the final being “to cultivate an informed empathy with the suffering of all human beings — even those regarded as enemies.”
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This is so insightful, and so true.
I had not heard of Karen Armstrong before reading this blog post, but it seems that her compassion is limited to “all human beings” (per the quote above). Why not extend compassion to other sentient creatures? I work at an animal shelter, and I’m also a vegan. Veganism is good for the animals, it’s good for your health (“self-compassion”), and it’s good for the Earth. Those who wish to live the compassionate life should go vegan, and should also visit their local animal shelter or rescue group to adopt as many animal companions as they can afford.
As of June 5th, 2011 in the USA “living the compassionate life” is too passe’ too disconnected from the experience of what seems to be a majority of the population, and embarrassing foolishness.
So what ?
It doesn’t take as many people as we think to reach a a tipping point of a profound and sacred nature. It happens. Believe it or not but warriors receive extensive training in compassion among quite a few “impossibly hard” expectations for personal transformation.
At the moment compassion is best practiced than talked about in most quarters. It’s utter foolishness to think compassion is going viral anytime soon. Remember, it can’t be the “right note” if played at the wrong time.
Fortunately people have forums like this to connect with others walking the same path. Makes things a good bit easier. So does compassion—kind of helps to be able to not take things personally to get decent at having compassion for those intent on harming you in all the ugly ways it happens.
Ah, thank God for compassion.
I love the “common humanity” concept for dealing with our pain. I have to say I find having compassion for my enemies pretty difficult. However, being reminded that every one of us goes through pain in our lives does help me feel connected to others and have compassion for those who are suffering.
Alex C, I agree that we should focus on extending our compassion to all the creatures of the world. In fact I often find it easier to feel compassion for animals than humans! When people are given information about how their food choices affect animals it usually horrifies them and can spur many into action. I admire your choice to live a vegan lifestyle. I’m a longtime vegetarian working my way towards being a vegan someday!
Regarding having compassion for your enemies, this quote comes to mind: “If we could read the secret history of our enemies, we should find in each man’s life sorrow and suffering enough to disarm all hostility.” — Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Gen: Good for you for being a vegetarian. These days, it’s easier than ever to give up dairy products and eggs. Even a modest-sized supermarket usually contains alternatives, like soy milk and coconut-milk ice cream. Given the cruelties inherent in animal farming, a glass of milk or an egg contain at least as much suffering as a hamburger.
It is impossible to live permanently compassionate life.I agree writing and preaching live compassionate is easy but in practical life we behave with our self interest and not care of pain of others.Man is selfish animal he show compassion only those who are kins,may they help to him.All others are stranger to him. In war my enemies are killed Iam happy but my country man killed I show extreme compassion.Man not only selfish but by nature he is evil.In holocaust of Jew most Christians without any proper reason helped Nazi to search Jews.
I think this idea of “informed empathy” is fascinating. It is hard to have compassion for others at times, but seeking to put ourselves in their place and understand where they’re coming from, even if we disagree, can help so much. I think we all want to be understood, to be given the benefit of the doubt, and to feel like what we think and feel matters.
I do agree that one of the hardest things for so many of us is to have compassion for ourselves, to cut ourselves a break. I know I’m harder on me than anyone else is, and I’m supposed to “know better” as a therapist.
I’ve read a good bit of both Armstrong and Nouwen. Great stuff! They don’t try and provide easy answers to religious questions or spiritual issues. They grapple with these deeper issues and give us a lot to think about.
Carmella Broome EdS LPC LMFT/I
Author of Carmella’s Quest: Taking On College Sight Unseen (Red Letter Press 2009)
http://CarmellasQuest.LiveJournal.com