Problems with compassion meditation

[TaTa]

Recently i decided to go back to my compassion meditation because if thought it might help with some attachment problems that i was having. I find out that its getting kind of hard generating compassion although my shine is stronger than before. Before de compassion feel was very strong and now is kind of subtle.

Any ideas on what the problem might be? Any advice?

[Ayu]

What you write here is so short, makes no clear image of your problem - for me. Sorry.
If you could discuss this with a teacher or an experienced lay person from face to face, i think you could get better advices.

[futerko]

It could just be progress, increased strength and subtlety both sound like you are moving in a good direction to me.

[gregkavarnos]

I had the same problem with my tonglen practice, in the beginning it was strong and vibrant and then it slowly became mechanical. My teacher advised me to just keep practicing. Even mechanical or flat practice is better than no practice at all. The other thing worth doing is checking your motivation. Motivation plays a huge role in the generation of compassion.

[Yudron]

Grief or depression could make it difficult. Compassion begins at home.

[futerko]

Just a thought based upon a lecture I was just listening to, but the antidote to aggression is meditation on compassion, and the antidote to attachment is meditation on impermanence.

[TaTa]

Grief or depression could make it difficult. Compassion begins at home.

Maybe it sounded worst than it is. It was a small problem but i thought it was a good opportunity to start my compassion meditation again.

I had the same problem with my tonglen practice, in the beginning it was strong and vibrant and then it slowly became mechanical. My teacher advised me to just keep practicing. Even mechanical or flat practice is better than no practice at all. The other thing worth doing is checking your motivation. Motivation plays a huge role in the generation of compassion.

One of the reasons why i decided to start meditating on compassion again was to improve my motivation. I believe firmly in mahayana and i try very hard with prayers and so on to set up a good motivation, but if im honest to myself my motivation still is to make my life a little better, Im hoping the seeds im planting now will have good results in the future in terms of bodichitta. You are probably right, i should just keep practicing. For some reason since I've started meditation i haven't been able to establish a regularity in terms of daily and more than 15 minutes with this kind of practices ( the four immeasurable ).

[Karma Dorje]

One of the reasons why i decided to start meditating on compassion again was to improve my motivation. I believe firmly in mahayana and i try very hard with prayers and so on to set up a good motivation, but if im honest to myself my motivation still is to make my life a little better, Im hoping the seeds im planting now will have good results in the future in terms of bodichitta. You are probably right, i should just keep practicing. For some reason since I've started meditation i haven't been able to establish a regularity in terms of daily and more than 15 minutes with this kind of practices ( the four immeasurable ).

There is nothing at all wrong with wanting to make your life a little better! Just extend the feeling to want to make the lives of others a little better as well, knowing that all beings are looking to do the same thing but most of the time don't know what will make them truly happy. Compassion is not punishing yourself, it is wanting the very best for all beings.

[gregkavarnos]

One of the reasons why i decided to start meditating on compassion again was to improve my motivation. I believe firmly in mahayana and i try very hard with prayers and so on to set up a good motivation, but if im honest to myself my motivation still is to make my life a little better, Im hoping the seeds im planting now will have good results in the future in terms of bodichitta. You are probably right, i should just keep practicing. For some reason since I've started meditation i haven't been able to establish a regularity in terms of daily and more than 15 minutes with this kind of practices ( the four immeasurable ).

To deal with the motivational aspect you could try contemplation on the Four Thoughts that Turn the Mind Towards Dharma and then begin your meditation on compassion. You see you need to be motivated to practice compassion otherwise why would you practice it?

[muni]

In our daily interconnection, honest respect for all can also be defined as compassion.
I understood something like: through our own peace the free flow of compassion is opened.
This sounds good. But indeed, easy to say. No worries anyway.

All the best with your practice.

[TaTa]

There is nothing at all wrong with wanting to make your life a little better! Just extend the feeling to want to make the lives of others a little better as well, knowing that all beings are looking to do the same thing but most of the time don't know what will make them truly happy. Compassion is not punishing yourself, it is wanting the very best for all beings.

Dont worry, no guilt here hehe.

To deal with the motivational aspect you could try contemplation on the Four Thoughts that Turn the Mind Towards Dharma and then begin your meditation on compassion. You see you need to be motivated to practice compassion otherwise why would you practice it?

Thanks ill try that.


Can chenrzig practice be a substitute for compassion or tonglen meditation??

[Ayu]

...
Can chenrzig practice be a substitute for compassion or tonglen meditation??

I think so.
You should ask your teacher.
(If there is none, please contact your inner teacher. He is in the deepest point, maybe in form of a Buddha.)

[dakini_boi]

Recently i decided to go back to my compassion meditation because if thought it might help with some attachment problems that i was having. I find out that its getting kind of hard generating compassion although my shine is stronger than before. Before de compassion feel was very strong and now is kind of subtle.

Any ideas on what the problem might be? Any advice?

Think of all the people out there who are sick and in pain. And how wonderful it would be if you could take away their pain. I think of people I know with cancer diagnoses. . . or I think of a hospital and how it is just full of people in pain and scared. That usually helps me.