The Compassion Trap - Not
Just a Buddhist Belief

Compassion is a popular word that implies kindly concern for the suffering and difficulties of another. If that were all, there would be no trap. But compassion also commonly implies a wish to end that suffering or difficulties.

Let me digress, for a moment into asking the question, "Is God-Tao compassionate?" If God-Tao wishes to end the suffering and difficulties of the billions of us in pain every day of our lives, then I would have to conclude that God-Tao is incompetent and impotent. How lacking in power and in the ability to help us! I don't think so. Instead, I suggest thinking that God-Tao has the power and makes the choice not to end the suffering. The belief I hold is that God-Tao considers the pain to be one of the physical plane lessons that we all must learn in order to graduate from Earth School.

Getting back now to what I referred to as the compassion trap - the wish to end the suffering is the trap. This wish runs contrary to the painful manifestations created by your higher self. Or if you are a follower of Byron Katie's work, then such a wish means you are no longer loving what is. When you are not loving what is, then you are shoveling against the tide and are most unhappy.

Psychology Traps. Just as any spiritual tool can be misused, so too can any psychological or psychotherapeutic method be misused. The best therapies, like the best spiritual systems, will help people become more at peace with themselves.

Inner peacefulness will show itself as less tension in the body. Less tension implies a body with lower-than-average blood pressure and heart rate as well as higher-than-average extremities' temperatures. I recommend that you take these body measurements and compare your results with societal norms. How do you measure up in terms of inner peacefulness?

Do not confuse peace of mind with spaced-out insensitivity. A truly peaceful mind is very sensitive, very aware. Tenzin Gyatso, (14th Dalai Lama)