Buddhist teachings compassion

When we see someone suffer and we have courage and compassion, we can intend to take this suffering away from the person and load it upon ourselve. With breathing in we imagine that the suffering comes on us and with breathing out we give our wellbeing to that person.This is called "tonglen". It is a effective way to strengthen our compassion and train in the attitude of a Bodhisattva. I have heard that without this attitude one can not realize complete enlightenment.

We might think that we can not take the karma of others on ourselve and that is true. But some might have a karma, that permits it for others to take their suffering for real.

We can start with small deeds. For example we can intend; "I take the next flu, of this person upon me". Or we might intend: "I will take the suffering of one day of this old person, that suffers in hospital upon me." Or:" I will take the suffering of this pig, while it gets slaughtered, upon me."

Like this we can start with taking a small portion of suffering upon us, untill we are strong and courageous enaugh to take more.Or we can start with a person whom we really love, untill we can also do it for strangers.We can also pray to the Buddhas that our good intention comes really true.

Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche once said that it might really work, but that we should not be afraid, as actually we recieve much more than we loose. Empowered by compassion we might find out, that we are much stronger than we thought and we might find peace in the heart of suffering.When we give, we shoud not think that our deed was somehow "extraordinary" or "holy", but remain simple, with the attitude that it is just natural for us to act in this way. Like that we overcome wrong pride, but nurture a very natural and healthy sense of self esteem.

Our compassion will empower us, untill we are able to become a medcine for the sick, a bridge over an abyss for the traveller, a protector for the victims of terror and a blessing for the Dharma practitioner.To practice the view of emptiness in union with compassion is the path of Mahayana.