Compassion for abusers..how?
Posted: Fri May 13, 2011 4:05 pm
I've been through a lot of pain recently. The person whom I once cared for hurt me tremendously. I've spent the nights so angry, trouble mind, lost, confused, sorrowful.
I decided to turn to sutra recitation last night (Ksitigarbha sutra). It did help a little. I dedicated my merits toward my abusers. Little by little, I am beginning to figure out that they too are sentient beings stuck in samsara just as I am. I pray so that their suffering and their karmic retributions for whatever they have done may be lessened. Am I idiotic for doing this?
I pondered on Shakyamuni Buddha's teachings and teachings of various masters. Holding hatred toward someone is like holding on to a hot piece of coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else, only the person holding it is getting burned. You see, if I am angry, my abusers will not feel the wrath of my anger. Only I will and it consumes me. But if I practice the opposite, having compassion and praying for them, it heals me bit by bit. I figured that this is hard, a big challenge. In our world today, when one is hurt, many turn to vengeance but few turn to compassion and forgiveness. I am inspired by the stories of Tibetan exiles, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and many monks and nuns who have been hurt by the Chinese authorities. I draw from their strength, wisdom, and compassion to the point where I am touched by their kindness toward their abusers.
What else can I do to strengthen my practices of compassion toward my abusers? Why is it important to have kindness toward our abusers?
I decided to turn to sutra recitation last night (Ksitigarbha sutra). It did help a little. I dedicated my merits toward my abusers. Little by little, I am beginning to figure out that they too are sentient beings stuck in samsara just as I am. I pray so that their suffering and their karmic retributions for whatever they have done may be lessened. Am I idiotic for doing this?
I pondered on Shakyamuni Buddha's teachings and teachings of various masters. Holding hatred toward someone is like holding on to a hot piece of coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else, only the person holding it is getting burned. You see, if I am angry, my abusers will not feel the wrath of my anger. Only I will and it consumes me. But if I practice the opposite, having compassion and praying for them, it heals me bit by bit. I figured that this is hard, a big challenge. In our world today, when one is hurt, many turn to vengeance but few turn to compassion and forgiveness. I am inspired by the stories of Tibetan exiles, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and many monks and nuns who have been hurt by the Chinese authorities. I draw from their strength, wisdom, and compassion to the point where I am touched by their kindness toward their abusers.
What else can I do to strengthen my practices of compassion toward my abusers? Why is it important to have kindness toward our abusers?