Fierce Compassion
“Compassion and tolerance are not a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength.” - Dalai Lama
We often think of virtues like love and compassion to be qualities of softness and receptivity but there is a fierceness we need to abide in them fully. To anchor ourselves in the space of our hearts is to allow our emotions to wash over us and not make them wrong. It’s standing in the middle of a windstorm and not letting it knock you down. It’s accepting this moment as it is without rejection. As the Dalai Lama says, compassion is not a luxury but a human necessity. It is the foundation for non-violence and the lifeline to our sustainability as a species.
For me personally, the last month has been a huge shift and compassion has been my anchor. I am acclimating to a new life in Boca Raton, Florida where the weather is balmy, the thunderstorms are pervasive, and the reptiles are abundant! It was a decision that Alan, Satya, and I made together, as we had envisioned ourselves living in a sanctuary that could provide nature, nourishment, and joy when our lease came up in Brooklyn. We found the home that we are in now, and knew that it was meant for us. I am elated to be able to continue teaching my regular group classes through the ISHTA online platform, and have a couple of workshops in July that I am thrilled to share. And although Alan and I have moved, the ISHTA studio is not going anywhere. Mona will continue to run it and just as soon as it is safe to reopen, I will come up to teach in person. I plan to do so on a regular basis to get my NYC fix in!
In addition to this life transition is the reckoning that I am experiencing within myself as a white woman of privilege. And for both of these processes, compassion has been a bedrock. It has allowed me to embrace whatever arises as useful information to grow and evolve, rather than a weapon for shame and blame. I hope you can cultivate a space of fierce compassion inside yourself, wherever you are, however you are, in whatever this moment is for you.
Namaste,
Sarah
