Compassion Exercise -- Avatar Course

If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion. Dalai Lama

I have been looking at the Avatar Course and in the process, spoke with the individual who created the Avatar Canada site. I told him how much I appreciated the Compassion Exercise on the site and he said to feel free to share it, spread it, use it.

A Sunday Special Treat -- here is The Compassion Exercise

Compassion Exercise

Honesty with yourself leads to compassion for others.

Objective:

To increase the amount of compassion in the world.

Expected Result:

A personal sense of peace.

Instructions: This exercise can be done anywhere that people congregate (airports, malls, parks, beaches, etc.). It should be done on strangers, unobtrusively, from some distance. Try to do all five steps on the same person.

Step 1 With attention on the person, repeat to yourself: "Just like me, this person is seeking some happiness for his/her life."

Step 2 With attention on the person, repeat to yourself: "Just like me, this person is trying to avoid suffering in his/her life."

Step 3 With attention on the person, repeat to yourself: "Just like me, this person has known sadness, loneliness, and despair."

Step 4 With attention on the person, repeat to yourself: "Just like me, this person is seeking to fulfill his/her needs."

Step 5 With attention on the person, repeat to yourself: "Just like me, this person is learning about life."

Variation:

1. To be done by couples and family members to increase understanding of each other.

2. To be done on old enemies and antagonists still present in your memories.

3. To be done on other life forms.

Blessings.