Trauma - a Realistic Perspective

     "A critical component of ... the [Buddha's] Noble Eightfold Path ... counseled that trauma, in any of its forms, is not a failure or a mistake. It is not something to be ashamed of, not a sign of weakness, and not a reflection of inner failure. It is simply a fact of life. 
     This attitude toward trauma is at the heart of the Buddha's teaching, although it is often overlooked in the rush to embrace the inner peace that his teachings also promised. But inner peace is actually predicated upon a realistic approach to the uncertainties and fears that pervade our lives."

       Mark Epstein. "The Trauma of Everyday Life." Penguin Press, NY, 2013.

 

Compassion & True Mental Health

     "Compassion goes beyond empathy to the heartfelt yearning, 'May you be free of suffering and its causes. How may I help?'"

       B. Alan Wallace. "The Attention Revolution. Unlocking the Power of the Focused Mind." Wisdom, Boston, 2006.
 
     How often am I actually compassionate? Maybe in a healthcare setting, but outside of that? All too rarely to be truthful. Compassion is the opposite of our default individualistic, competitive, adversarial, self-centered way of being.
     Yet a part of us deeply understands that compassion is healthy & natural. And we can cultivate the mental balance in which compassion naturally resides.

 

Shahnewaz Karim, National Geographic   http://photography.nationalgeographic.com