Compassion is peaceful at heart, but must engage with sharp clarity, like a crystal sword. In the Buddhist tradition, there are four awake and compassionate actions or karmas: pacifying, enriching, magnetizing, and destroying. How do we know what’s appropriate? In particular, how do we work with aggression and hatred? When must we “destroy”? How do we stop a violent attack without being consumed by anger and hate?
This weekend program included sitting meditation and the compassion practices of contemplating the four limitless ones and exchanging self for others through tonglen.
Four talks hosted in person at Karmê Chöling and offered online from November 4-6, 2022.