Glaring light of awareness:Vessels of Compassion

 by Mary Samantha

Living within us at this moment are the seeds of choice. We can dwell in the past. The past of hurts, traumas, longings, betrayals, and live as though we are still there or we can choose to let go of the events and ideas of the past. We can let go of the accumulation of meager years of existence and embrace the future we create, that is only created by each person, in each present moment, in his or her choices, in the NOW.

Being a conscious creator with and guardian for this land, this planet, we need to begin to make choices that are in alignment with our hearts and our integrity.  Willingly choosing to let go of preconceptions, we let go of attachments to who we think we are, and Choose to act from the Heart of greater humanity. A spiritual heart which is LOVE, it’s purpose to be the vessel that carries COMPASSION to the whole of creation.

When we choose in any present moment to no longer act from the hungry, consumption of the ego self, we begin the journey to self-mastery. To KNOW THYSELF has been the directive of the would-be enlightened for thousands of years. Yet it is true that, It is one thing to know your self, it is another to act on that knowledge.

How can we walk on this Earth as vessels of love and compassion amidst the entrenched paradigms of thirsty egos and the expectations of the sleeping elite? How do we honor our own unique truth simultaneously, with respect for another? I find that the answer to these questions lies in taking responsibility. This means truly being responsible, only for what we are actually responsible for. We are responsible for our selves and that can in itself, be a full-time job. This also means we do not disempower others by taking on what should be their own responsibility.  Rather, we walk in the knowledge that they too are fully capable human beings to whom we ask that they be the authorities over themselves. We expect that they author their own story,  as we write the life script for our own lives.

For compassion to exist there must be responsibility. To place blame on others, for your own unhappiness, your own anger, your own distress, or dislike is to disempower yourself. To willingly allow another to do that to you, is to act without compassion. For a truly compassionate heart does not undermine the spiritual growth of another. Sometimes the greatest act of compassion is in giving back to others the emotions and projections that they would paint us with and walking out of the picture, so that they can spend some time alone with what they have authored in to their own life story. Walking away is not always the easiest choice. Bystanders may call you selfish, or uncaring but that is because we have been taught that compassion is co-misery, co-dependence, conspiracy against the self.

True compassion is COM or  “to be to be with ” PASSION.

The suffering on the road to execution of the one known as Jesus Christ, is called, the Passion. The witnesses of his passion are referred to as the most compassionate hearts. The compassionate heart of Mary symbolizes that detached, quiet, acceptance of bearing witness to the suffering of another, without actually allowing one’s self to suffer.

To truly walk in consciousness is not to rise above the ego, but rather to raise the ego in to consciousness. We can feel our emotions, we bare witness to the rise and fall, the coming and going, and we can be compassionate but we have a choice whether or not to endure suffering.  In a world of suffering, misunderstanding and self righteousness, it is easy to be angry, it is a no brainer to pitch a fit, to point fingers, to rail against others for perceived slights. This is when we take the ego to lower places, places of fear, places within our own interior world that we yet to bring the light of consciousness. A heart walking in the light of a loving compassionate heart may bare witness to these dark places, can witness the tears and the suffering of the ego. The compassionate heart of the self knowing, can have compassion for what is in fear, that is in panic, that is in self doubt and that cries out for validation ,vindication and acknowledgment.

Like Mary at the foot of the cross, baring witness is all that can truly be done in compassion. She does not throw herself on to the cross with Christ. She does not take up nails and drive them into her own hands thus wounding her self. To do so would only take away from the moment of the Christ’ suffering by placing it on herself. Her suffering would make his no less, This is the wisdom of her immaculate, compassionate heart.

We all have within us a desire for love and compassion. We are all capable of making mistakes. None of us are infallible. It is foolishness and pride to think or to assume that ourselves or others are not going to disappoint us sometimes, that they will  not make mistakes or miscommunicate with us. A wise heart and mind understands that this is not only possible but highly probable. Thus to approach momentary conflict or misunderstanding with astonishment and animosity is very short sighted and honestly, quite obtuse. Of course, we will experience these moments from strangers, friends and family. None is exempt from humanity and the imperfections of an imperfect world. True compassion and love has already forgiven the fallibility of human kind.

To forgive is to already have given.

If we choose to walk with forgiveness, we are simply saying that we are wise in understanding that people will disappoint us, piss us off and make mistakes and that since we understand this, we will not be surprised or act offended. Forgiveness is not a condoning of behaviors or words. To forgive does not take the responsibility of the others actions away from them. Rather, it places it firmly where it needs to be. When we have forgiven ( let go of in advance), then we no longer have to argue our truth. No one can place blame upon us. There is No argument. We simply, become the witnesses to the others non-forgiveness within themselves.

Antonyms for forgiveness: blame, cruelty, meanness, mercilessness, accusation, censure, and punishment.

Synonyms: compassion, mercy, dispensation and grace.

What is a vessel? A vessel is a chalice, a cup, a cauldron, a holy grail, a human being. We are all vessels, We  can also be filled and emptied. If we are full of judgments, complaints, limitations, conditions, concepts, ideology if you are full of beliefs of what is and is not divine, what is and is not worthy of love, then we are full of suffering. It is not about what others do to us, it is what we hold our cup out for to receive. No one can fill us with what we do not open to receive.  This is very important that we remain empty of these things as much as possible, It is only human that we accumulate these things in an effort to learn and evolve but we must continue to empty it all out so that we do not become full of things. A full cup cannot be receiving anything more. A cup that is left standing full too long will stagnate and become putrid, filled with vile.

Being a compassionate vessel can mean that we hold the grail of ourselves up to receive all the uplifted nourishment of the world unto ourselves. Or we can hold it out to be filled with the bile and venom of the fallen world. We have a responsibility, an ability, to respond to this great choice. We do not have to take unto ourselves that which would poison us or make us sick in spirit, mind, heart or soul. We have a choice. Compassion gives us the power to bear witness, to forgive and also to walk away from the toxic fount and choose to fill ourselves from the fount of life.

“If humanity would but choose to fill one another up with the elixir of everlasting life and not suffering,  by  the sovereignty -bestowing power of forgiveness, we would walk in compassion all the days of our lives.”-Mary Samantha Magdal-Anna

I have been accused myself, at times, of not being compassionate enough. I have had moments of frustration because I could not ” make someone” understand that by removing myself from their life was not an act of abandonment or judgment but from my understanding, an act of love and letting go. I have learned through 43 years of life, 30 years on an active spiritual path, and 15 years as a priestess,  that I cannot change anyone, but myself. I am resigned in that to argue with people is pointless and serves nothing constructive. It takes two to co-create, be it a solution or anything else. If another is closed off or filled already with their own agenda, then my efforts or contributions are for not. All I can do then, is forgive and have faith, that in time, the truth will make itself known.

I have had a  recent conversation with someone, who said they felt guilty because they felt they owed an explanation to an old friend as to why they were no longer interacting with them. Their motives for doing so, completely out of compassion, walking away because it was the only thing one could do in the situation less she become a involved in what they could not in good conscience, support. compassion in action is often times, misunderstood. Through the compassionate heart, forgiveness is already assured.

For myself, anyhow, I strive in that I choose, that I will bare witness to and honor the path of another, wherever it takes them on their journey because I have faith and believe there are no mistakes, only lessons. I have peace in this knowing. This peace gives me the freedom to walk away from the path of suffering myself, I do not have to hold their hand on the path of suffering but I will be there on the other side, waiting for them.In the meantime, I choose to fill my holy cup from the fount of life so that I can be ready should that day come. sometimes, especially when we are dealing with people whom we love, who are in a relationship with addiction, this is all we can do. It would be unwise to follow them and would not ultimately serve them either.

“Tara is known as the “Mother of all Buddhas.” This is because she is the wisdom of reality, and all Buddhas and bodhisattvas are born from this wisdom. This wisdom is also the fundamental cause of happiness, and our own spiritual growth comes from this wisdom. That is why Tara is called the Mother. And Mother Tara has much wisdom to manifest many aspects, sometimes peaceful, sometimes wrathful, in different colours; all to help sentient beings.” — Lama Thubten Yeshe

Tara, meaning Star, is known in Tibetan Buddhism, in one of her guises as the Mother of Compassion, or mother of perfected wisdom. Tara embodies the strengths of peace, forgiveness and compassion She like the Mary, at the foot of the cross, symbolizes the endurance of the soul through every incarnation, every lesson to be learned, even through anxiety, stress or hurtful experiences. She is the ultimate witness, as she relates to Quan Yin, Bodhisattva who also is represented carrying her vessel of compassionate balm.

Quan Yin evolved out of the cycle of samsara (birth and rebirth or suffering) to gain enlightenment. As she was to pass from this world, she turned back hearing the cries of humanity in their suffering, she chose to remain, to help ease humanity’s suffering. She does not suffer for humanity because she has become enlightened and no longer need suffer to have compassion. She is detached in her compassion thus making herself far more efficient in her compassionate works, she embodies inner peace and spiritual acceptance. She symbolizes purity and is thought to be part of every good and virtuous woman.

The Bhagavad Gita 6:7 states “The Supreme Reality stands revealed in the consciousness of those who have conquered themselves. They live in peace, alike in cold and heat, pleasure and pain, praise and blame”

We can all become enlightened to our own nature and to the nature of the world. We can choose to resist it or we can choose to accept it and those  within the world, as they are. We can choose to forgive what yet is to transpire and then we can also choose to get on with the work of compassionate living. We do not have to become entrenched in the drama of the world to transform it. In fact, we are far more efficient in our ability to act from compassion by not hanging on to the unpleasant, angry, upset, awful things of the world. Detachment is not being un-caring, it is caring enough not to be undone. As we rise above the worst of what humanity and our egos can throw at us, we gain the perspective of one who is raised up, our view becomes more expansive and we can see the bigger picture.

You do not have to be a master healer, you do not have to train for this work, you do not have to be an expert, The only requirement is accepting responsibility for yourself and your actions, your behaviors. Your practice, non judgment and forgiveness. Your life then becomes a path of service, your gifts, the tools to master on your unique path. I offer up a  beautiful example.

The living Hindu saint, AMMA, her pledge of service to the world is simple. she has pledged her service to hug all who come to her. it is simple and it is love in action. There are paths in life that we can choose, those paths will converge and diverge from others at times, that is just the way of things. What we do on those paths is as various as we are, the healing comes not from any of those roles or paths of service but rather, healing comes from the LOVE and COMPASSION that emanates from us in the service of our chosen paths.

It is my hope that we all find our path of service and become the vessels of true compassion this world and all her beings truly deserve.

Namaste.,  Mary Samantha