Meditation on compassion

It was another day of meditation, sadhana, and training here in Taiwan. I felt particularly lazy so I struggled to get into my practice. Before I knew it however I was two hours into deep meditation.

Feelings of sadness, pain, and suffering began to well up inside me. Nothing was wrong with me or my life in particular but the intensity began to surprise me. Emotions began to multiply exponentially inside me.

The writhing emotions felt natural despite their power. I felt comfortable within the sadness. I felt ease inside the suffering of the world. As tears began to form I could feel my sadness multiply. Before I knew it I was bawling my eyes out. I was shaking uncontrollably yet I felt calm at the very core of my consciousness. I cried with every fibre of my being. Is this compassion?

I felt the innumerable sadness of our existance. I felt the suffering and plight of the world, even perhaps the universe. I saw the dangers of our desires and how easy it is for us to fall as we teeter on the edge of bliss. Before I knew it four hours had passed and I fell comfortably into sleep.

Why is the human condition so apt for suffering? Why is pain a common necessity for the development of insight and wisdom?

"As a lotus flower is born in water, grows in water and rises out of water to stand above it unsoiled, so I, born in the world, raised in the world having overcome the world, live unsoiled by the world".