The Meditations of a Bodhisattva - The necessity of compassion

 

Compassion

The necessity of compassion 

One who wishes to gain omniscience swiftly must strive in three things: in compassion, in the thought of enlightenment, and in meditation.  Practice compassion from the very outset, for we know that compassion alone is the foundation of all the qualities of Buddhahood.  As we read in the teachings:

“A bodhisattva should not practice too many things at once, for if a bodhisattva can master and truly understand just one thing, then she would hold all the qualities of Buddhahood in the palm of her hand. And what is this one thing?  It is great compassion.  What is the beginning of a bodhisattva’s practice, and what is its abode?  Great compassion is the beginning of a bodhisattva’s practice, and it abides among living beings.”

Lesa í heild: http://www.dailyzen.com/zen/zen_reading1109.asp