Some thoughts on fear and compassion

[Kaishin]

Thank you, Amelia

[Heisoku]

Thank you Amelia for your open heartedness. Gassho.
In his book on Training the Mind (in compassion), which I am reading after Norman Fischer's book on Mind Training, Trungpa is suggesting that the closer we get to our buddhanature the more we have to face the turmoil of irritability, anger and fear. He even uses an analogy that Jundo has used, in that we need to go through the blender in order to process ourselves. I guess we really just sit through the blending and let the fears we have arise, see them for what they are, before being able to let them go.
You have let go and have allowed yourself to trust your true heart. Thank you for your example. Gassho.

[TimF]

http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showt...056#post132056

I was going to post in the above thread, but I didn't want to go off-topic.

I used to be very anxious if anyone I cared for was in pain, emotional and/ or physical. I would appear withdrawn and sometimes say inappropriate things because of the stress. Sometimes, I still do. I caught myself going into old bad habits last night as I was comforting a friend who has lost a pet cat.

However, I have noticed a change in my self-talk when these situations occur. Actually, the change is more like a lack of self-talk. I am learning to be still and compassionate with people in these types of situations now, which is comforting. I have learned that I used to fear bad things happening not only because of the obvious, but also because I was afraid of how I would react. Now that I have started to react less from within myself, I have a less fear.

I'm pretty sure this is practice at work, so I bow to you all.

Gassho and metta

Thank you for posting this, Amelia. During my time spent with my father this last week (referring to the thread link you posted), I felt anger and helplessness...and this led me to be a bit "short" with my family members, including my dad. I felt as if I was back-tracking in my practice of compassion, until I took stock and realized that I was merely expressing human emotion to a stressful environment, which led me to eventually smile, take a deep breath, and realize that I was not a heartless jerk, but rather a human who wears his emotions on his sleeves . And you know what? My family didn't get made at me for my short fuse, but rather patted me on the back, gave me some hugs, and let me know that we all felt the same about the situation.

Again, thanks for posting this! It helps for me to know that I am never alone when stress, fear, and anger encourages me to say inappropriate things.

Gassho,
Tim

[Amelia]

I will echo Daizan and say also that I feel like I've known many of you for years, and for most of you, I think that is so.

Thank you all for posting.

Bows.

[Kokuu]

Thank you so much for sharing this, Amelia. It is wonderful to read the fruit of your practice. I echo the others in saying that your presence here is greatly appreciated.

I wonder if reduced fear partly comes from caring more about others than ourselves? I notice within myself that if I go into a situation wondering what I can do for the benefit of others rather than myself (or at least making the encounter good for them rather than me) I am less worried about how it will go.

With gratitude and deep bows

Andy

[Jamie]

Bows back to you Amelia.
Kokuu, your suggestion is intriguing to me, I am going to sit with this awhile.
Gassho
Jamie