[OceanofDharma] Quotes of the Week: The Soft Spot of Compassion

[Carolyn Gimian]

Ocean of Dharma Quotes of the Week

October 14, 2005

[See below for a special offer from Shambhala Publications]

THE SOFT SPOT OF COMPASSION

Compassion is based on some sense of "soft spot" in us. It is as if we had 
a pimple on our body that was very sore -- so sore that we do not want to 
rub it or scratch it....That sore spot on our body is an analogy for 
compassion. Why? Because even in the midst of immense aggression, 
insensitivity to our life, or laziness, we always have a soft spot, some 
point we can cultivate -- or at least not bruise. Every human being has 
that kind of basic sore spot, including animals. Whether we are crazy, 
dull, aggressive, ego-tripping, whatever we might be, there is still that 
sore spot taking place in us. An open wound, which might be a more vivid 
analogy, is always there....We are not completely covered with a suit of 
armor all the time. We have a sore spot somewhere, some open wound 
somewhere. Such a relief! Thank earth!

 From TRAINING THE MIND AND CULTIVATING LOVING-KINDNESS, edited by Judith 
Lief, pages 14-15.


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All material by Chogyam Trungpa is copyright Diana J. Mukpo and used by 
permission.
Please send comments on and contributions to OCEAN OF DHARMA QUOTES OF THE 
WEEK to the list moderator, Carolyn Gimian at: carolyn at shambhala.com.

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Ocean of Dharma Quotes of the Week: teachings by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche.
Taken from works published by Shambhala Publications,  the Archive of his 
unpublished work in the Shambhala Archives, plus other published sources.
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