Compassionate Presence

The healing of our body and heart is always present in the attention of our compassionate presence.

The lotus blooms from muddy waters and so does our compassion and our acceptance. Allowing ourselves to gently look at our pain and tension and to tenderly explore our resistance to opening to this we can begin to explore and heal our hurts.

Become aware of how we resist the experience of exploring this awareness.  Notice the fear this produces; "it will never go away", "it hurts too much", I can't stand it", it takes too long", it is too much trouble", etc.  Then move your attention to the places in your body that the pain and tension are felt.  Sit quietly and tenderly with these physical and emotional discomforts and breathe into each place of pain. 

The pain and tension are the fertile ground of the muck and mire that produce the lotus blossoms. In the murkiness of our psyche are the seeds from which our compassionate presence grows.     

Being gentle with myself is how I move into compassionate presence.  When I am experiencing feelings such as sadness, despair, loneliness, or anger I breathe into the pain.  These feelings can take me by surprise or they may accumulate over time.  When I realize they are there I often find they manifest through a physical discomfort and may be accompanied by an emotionally  upsetting response.  When I experience these things I begin to slow my thoughts and focus on my breath.  

Silently counting my breaths or repeating my mantra begins to clear the murkiness from my mind.  I count each in and out breath, or I repeat my mantra to myself, which allows the mind chatter to quiet.  As this takes place I realize my physical discomfort and my emotional response begin to lessen.  I stay with my breath or my mantra until I sense a calmness within me.

As I become calm I gradually begin to explore the feelings that have me upset.  I probe with loving attention whatever I find and bring it closer in to me for examination. I want to know, understand, and offer loving support to the murkiness of my psyche.  The image of the beautiful lotus growing out of the muddy waters of the pond becomes a symbol for my own compassionate presence.  

Until I become this presence for myself I cannot truly offer compassion to others.  As a youngster I was taught that charity begins at home, as an adult I realize that compassion begins with self.  Examining the roots of my pain allows me to make peace with me and as I experience my own peaceful existence this feeling, thought, and attitude is how I relate to others in my daily practice of living. 


It is a practice that slowly permeates throughout my being.  When I become upset and begin to resist self examination I understand that my resistance causes my discomfort.  In that realization I surrender my ego of trying to control what I think I need, to my heart which truly knows what is best for me.  This shift in my perception allows me to find my compassionate presence, and from the muddy waters of ego compassion arises like the beautiful lotus blossom in a pond.