How to Practice Buddhist Compassion

To practice Buddhist compassion, one must seek to attain distinct levels. First, it is necessary to become a Buddhist, then to become a Bodhisattva--a compassionate being who seeks enlightenment for ones self and for all other beings. Finally, one must become a Buddha, an awakened being. Every aspect of Buddhist practice, regardless of the school of Buddhism, aims to develop compassion.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Buddhist practice
• Buddhist teacher

1. 
    

   Become a Buddhist. The immediate and long-tern goal of Buddhism is to realize compassion for all sentient beings. Once you have selected a school of Buddhism (Zen, Tibetan, Nichiren), begin your practice with perseverance and commitment.

2. 
    

   Seek and practice Bodhi, to awaken, by meeting the Buddhist condition of Right View. Right View means to recognize the importance of awakening. Remember “All things are not-self. Seeing this with insight, One becomes disenchanted with suffering. This is the path to purity." -Dhammapada 20: 279

3. 
    

   Strive by your practice for Great Compassion and Deep Wisdom. Without these two conditions, you are not a Buddhist. In order to achieve Great Compassion and Deep Wisdom, you have good motive, which is to awaken yourself and all sentient beings.

4. 
    

   Ask yourself if you have the motivation to be a Buddhist. Always recall that others dwell in the six realms of transmigration and that these are painful realms. You must want to free yourself and all others.

5. 
    

   Practice and develop Bodhicitta, which includes Bodhicitta of Will, which is to have the will to keep your purpose and to save others. Bodhicitta of Conduct is to continue your Bodhicitta Will. Bodhicitta of Victorious Significance is practiced by meditation, by which you realize the Buddhist concepts of Emptiness and Non-Emptiness, known as Sunyata.

Resources

• What is Bodhisattva?
• The Bodhisattva Concept
• Bodhicitta
• Bodhicitta the Middle Path