Mindfulness and Compassion: Two mainstays of sustainable future

Mindfulness and Compassion:

Two mainstays of sustainable future [1]

Bhikkhuni Dr. Thich Tinh Van

In Buddhism, Mindfulness and Compassion are two powerful practices, they are closely linked and work together to form personal growth and improve emotional health. Both come not only from deep-rooted traditions of personal growth and healing, but also are widely applicable in modern psychology and education in daily life. This is the moral and spiritual topic that we aim at because of their mutual relationship.

           To achieve the goal of sustainable approach to life, we need to start changing from small things in our daily lifestyle such as: 'living gently, responsibly, knowing contentment, simplicity and joy/ Santussako ca subharo ca, Appakicco ca sallahukavutti’[2] to big events like love and respect others to foster harmony and connection in our lives guiding us to attain wishes ‘Gods and humans, Thinking about the greatest blessing, Wishing for the greatest blessing, Hoping the Buddha will teach / Bahū devā manussā ca, maṅgalāni acintayuṃ, Ākaṅkhamānā sotthānaṃ, brūhi maṅgalamuttamaṃ’.[3]

First of all, we must strive to find solutions to stabilize ourselves and then for the future of humanity, because the aim and true values ​​of humans when appearing in life is just: 'bringing happiness and peace to the many, for the benefit and welfare of Gods and humans'. With such a desire, 'Mindfulness & Compassion' are two mainstays of principles of Buddhism.

I/ Mindfulness (Sati): Awareness in the Present Moment

Mindfulness is the practice of paying purposive, leading not to the meditation (jhānas) but to purification of mind. Mindfulness can only be understood to focus on what is happening right now, instead of dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. It is to be conscious diligently and constantly in one's thoughts, emotions, bodily sensations, and the environment. Suppose that by practicing mindfulness, you become less reactive to negative emotions, creating space to respond compassionately instead of impulsively similarly mindful breathing helps calm anger, allowing you to address someone’s hurt feelings constructively. Mindfulness helps us break free from the automatic reactions and distractions that often rule our minds, improving the ability to focus on tasks and solve challenges with creativity and cooperation.

For example: 'Contemplate this body - besides birth and aging - There is nothing else - Knowing such, man should live mindfully - Wash away greed or sorrow - Do not cling on to - Anything in the world'.[4]

It’s true that losing touch with mindfulness can make it harder to address deep feelings like greed or sorrow. Mindfulness isn’t about erasing these emotions because greed and sorrow are only part of human being. It is meant they are natural and universal characteristics. To give an instance about this matter, we can say instead of trying to ‘wash them away’, mindfulness invites us to observe them without judgment. By doing so, their clingings on us can soften over time through learning to return to the present, just simply acknowledging them as they arise. It’s a practice that can always be restarted. I suppose people often have the habit of seeing themselves as the center of relationships, so the impure mind (cittassa upakkilesa) [5] piled up with worries and sorrows. While reality shows that the human constitution is non-self (anattā), that constitution is always changing / impermanent (anicca), whatever changes must suffer 'Yaṃ aniccaṃ taṃ dukkhaṃ',[6] then why is the famous golden words quickly fell into oblivion?

‘Whatever has the nature of arising,

all that has the nature of ceasing /

Yaṁ kiñci samudayadhammaṁ,

Sabbaṃ taṃ nirodhadhammaṃ-ti’.[7]

In practical terms, mindfulness can be practiced through techniques like meditation or mindful breathing in ‘Mindfulness of Breathing / Mindfulness of In - and - Out Breathing’[8] or even simple awareness in daily activities such as eating, walking, talking, listening … in ‘Satipaṭṭhāna sutta’.[9]

In consequence, the method of training the mind, transforming the mind or paying attention helps people develop healthy habits to have a more positive and brighter life, which means repelling and reduce negative thoughts. It can be said that mindfulness (sati) and renunciation (upekhā) are the heart of the Buddha's teachings on the Three characteristies of existence / ti-lakkhaṇa because mindfulness helps reduce stress, increase concentration, and foster a greater sense of calm and clarity: ‘This is the one and only way, monks, for the purification of beings, for the overcoming of sorrow and lamentation, for the destruction of suffering and grief, for walking on the path of truth, for the attainment of Nibbāna / Ekāyano ayaṃ, bhikkhave, maggo sattānaṃ visuddhiyā, sokaparidevānaṃ samatikkamāya, dukkhadomanassānaṃ atthaṅgamāya, ñāyassa adhigamāya, nibbānassa sacchikiriyāya’. [10]

II/ Compassion (Mettā): The Heart of Empathy and Action

Compassion is the ability to recognize the suffering of others and wish to relieve. It originates from the heart of sympathy and love for all human beings (sattesu sammā paṭipatti) and wants to express it through the expression of goodwill and common sense of words, actions or support: ‘one should develop a boundless heart (of mettā) for all beings, as a mother would protect (with mettā) her only child at the risk of her own life / Mātā yathā niyaṃ puttaṃ, Āyusā ekaputtamanurakkhe, Evampi sabbabhūtesu, Mānasaṃ bhāvaye aparimāṇaṃ’.[11]

           Due to understanding about the Buddha’s teachings about the impermanence of life, the certainty of death, and the importance of practicing virtue and wisdom: ‘Bhikkhus, a human life is very short. One moves on to future states, so one should do what is virtuous, and live a life of goodness. Nothing that is born avoids death.  The longer one has lived, the fewer years one has left / Vuttanhetaṃ bhagavā: ‘Appamidaṃ, bhikkhave, manussānaṃ āyu, Gamanīyo samparāyo, mantāya boddhabbaṃ, kattabbaṃ kusalaṃ, caritabbaṃ brahmacariyaṃ, Natthi jātassa amaraṇaṃ’.[12]

In addition, compassion extends not only to others but also to ourselves. Self-compassion involves treating oneself with the same kindness and care as one would treat a friend in moments of struggle or failure. It encourages forgiveness, acceptance and the cultivation of emotional resilience, ‘One should develop a limitless heart of love, kindness, humility, contentment and inner peace for the whole world - Above, below, and across without any obstruction, without any hatred, without oppressing / Mettañca sabbalokasmiṃ, Mānasaṃ bhāvaye aparimāṇaṃ, Uddhaṃ adho ca tiriyañca, Asambādhaṃ averaṃ asapattaṃ’.[13]

For this reason, compassion is indeed one of the Four Infinite Minds (Brahma-vihāra) in Buddhist philosophy. The ethical teachings advocates an ideal of moral perfection as its ultimate goal, it is namely a lofty one (Brahma), as established by the Buddha. He has chosen the love of a mother for her child as an example to teach how to cultivate harmony within ourselves and with others ‘not do the slightest thing that the wise would later criticize - May all sentient beings never be separated from the happiness that knows no suffering - May all sentient beings live in equanimity, free from attachment and aversion / Na ca khuddaṃ samācare kiñci, Yena viññū pare upavadeyyuṃ, Sukhino vā khemino hontu, Sabbe sattā bhavantu sukhitattā’.[14]

Interestingly, mindfulness on the love of others always increases a sense of ‘self love’ and ‘self worth’. Hence, compassion is about responding with kindness, care, and a genuine desire to make a positive difference in the lives of others ‘Rooted in kindness and understanding, compassion can be directed toward individuals, groups, animals, or even oneself (self-compassion). This is truthful, timely, and pleasant speech, connected with meaning/ Karaṇīyamatthakusalena, Yantaṃ santaṃ padaṃ abhisamecca’.[15]

That’s why the ability to recognize and feel the suffering of others make people have a natural response / a desire to help relieving the pain / discomfort of others which we can called Upekkhā (equanimity). Once the six doors of the senses (dvāra) are due to skillful protection, the teaching of Anatta, such as not being attached to the acquired things like praise, respect and admiration … even the knowledge that was hoped to be achieved now automatically transformed into stopping. Because of the complete detachment from all existence in life, [the notion of ‘this is mine/ etaṁ mama’ is induced by craving/ taṇhā, the notion ‘this I am/ eso’haṃ asmi’ by conceit/ māna and the notion ‘this is my self/ eso me attā’ by wrong views/ diṭṭhi’ is alertly applied].[16]

As a matter of fact, a peaceful mind is a true happiness. It doesn’t mean a life without challenges or emotions but rather a state of inner calm and balance, even amidst life’s storms. One should nurture a peaceful mind, ‘Whether he stands, walks, sits or lies down, as long as he is awake, he should develop this mindfulness.

This (one say) is the highest conduct / Tiṭṭhañcaraṃ nisinno vā, Sayāno vā yāvatassa vigatamiddho, Etaṃ satiṃ adhiṭṭheyya, Brahmametaṃ vihāraṃ idhamāhu’.[17]

Though mindfulness and compassion can be practiced independently, they are mutually reinforcing. Both mindfulness and compassion help us cope with personal suffering and reduce the suffering of others. These two pillars of sustainability create opportunities for everyone to learn more care, justice and honesty. They together promote healing and well-being, both individually and collectively, ‘Don't deceive or harm others. Neither from anger nor ill will should anyone wish harm to another / Na paro paraṃ nikubbetha, Nātimaññetha katthaci naṃ kiñci, Byārosanā paṭighasaññā, Nāññamaññassa dukkhamiccheyya’.[18]

Summarily, these two mainstays of sustainable future should practice/ apply in daily life to help us manage stress, improve concentration, and develop emotional intelligence. Together, mindfulness and compassion offer a pathway to a more peaceful, empathetic, and sustainable world. The Power of Mindfulness and Compassion create a powerful synergy that can help heal our minds, strengthen our relationships, and foster a more compassionate and sustainable world. They encourages people to think long-term, act with awareness, and make choices that benefit not only for themselves but the larger community and the planet.