Compassionate Pity cures all bitter Cruelty:
How does a Bhikkhu dwell pervading one
direction with his mind endued
with compassion? Just as he would feel compassion on seeing an unlucky,
unfortunate person, so he pervades all beings with boundless compassion!
Therefore first of all, on eyeing a wretched man, deplorable, unfortunate,
in every way a fit object for compassion, horrid, reduced to utter misery,
with hands and feet cut off, sitting in the shelter for the weak & helpless
with an empty dirty pot placed before him, with maggots in all his wounds,
moaning, compassionate pity should be felt for him in this way: This being
has been reduced to misery: If only he could be freed from this suffering!
Similarly too should a Bhikkhu whose meditation subject is compassion also
arouse compassion for an evil-wrong-doing person, even if he is happy now:
Though this poor wretch is now happy, cheerful, & enjoying his wealth, but
still, since he has neglected to do even one single good deed, he can come
to
experience untold suffering anytime after a downfall to the states of
loss!
Such infinitely compassionate pity he feels towards all beings and especially
both towards himself, the dear friend, the neutral one, & the hostile person,
thereby breaking down the wrong attitude barrier separating these
objects.
Vbh 273, Vism I 315
Compassionate Pity
(Karunā), which cures all cruelty,
is a divine state!
Karuna_is_Pity,
Endless Pity,
Space_Compassion,
What_is_Wrong
Safe_Medicine,
Great_Compassion
What is the proximate cause of Pity?
The proximate cause of Compassionate Pity
(Karunā), which induces this
fine mental state, is seeing, knowing and understanding the
HELPLESSNESS
of most beings, since they do the wrong that cause their misery
influenced
by ignorance, which blind and obstruct their understanding of
right & wrong,
and influenced
by greed, lust and desire, which bind and drag them despite
their struggles,
and influenced by hate, aversion and opposition, which push
and burn them
from inside.
Out of self-control they are thus bound to commit
wrong repeatedly and thus later experience the resulting downfall!
