Love in Action

Democracy is messy and imperfect and stressful.  It has its roots in the faith that humankind will collaborate for the betterment of all.  It requires participation.  It requires us to move from awareness to action. 

Similarly, compassion requires us to move from the witnessing of suffering toward acting to alleviate the suffering.  Compassion is love in action.  

When we practice compassion meditation, we bring awareness to the struggles of ourselves and others, and then wish for an end to those struggles.   In those moments of practice, when we are sitting on our cushion or in our chair, our love in action takes the form of wishing for peace and ease for ourselves and others.  

But it doesn’t end there.  We practice so that when we witness suffering out in our daily lives, we are primed to take action to alleviate it.  Our compassionate acts can take many forms: holding the door for someone with their hands full, running errands for a friend going through a family ordeal, or helping a lost dog make its way back to its human.

Two of the deepest acts of compassion we can undertake are crucial for the survival of democracy. First we must listen. Every human wishes to be seen and heard, and every act and utterance is an attempt to meet a need. We may never agree with some people, but if we begin to identify needs and interests through open dialogue, we can begin to find ways to meet our collective needs. Second, we must be active participants in our democracy - advocating for laws and electing officials that ensure that each and every one of us is a free and valued member of our society.

The compassionate actions we take allow us to live in alignment with our values, to feel the joy that comes from being a part of the betterment of the community.  

We hope that you will join us this week for any, many or all of our chances to practice together.  

And we hope that you will use your practice as a launching pad for action.  As Thurgood Marshall said, "Where you see wrong or inequality or injustice, speak out, because this is your country. This is your democracy. Make it. Protect it. Pass it on.”