A sharing by MindBeautySphere, Caroline Omondi

A sharing by MindBeautySphere, Caroline Omondi Compassion work(s)

The Dalai Lama is much quoted in saying, ‘I have no religion, compassion is my religion’. I am fortunate to share that I have been on the receiving end of compassion in crucial moments in my life. For one, my aunties, knowing that after the passing on of my dad, there was no money in the house to further my education, yet they made this possible, nevertheless. They were not asked to do so, nor was I entitled to their help, and I know they sacrificed for me having an education and in doing so they did make a difference that only I can witness the significance of. But also, outside the bonds of extended family I have received unexpected blessings, from men and women of various color and religious background that had one thing in common, they saw me and my immediate and long-term needs, and decided to be there for me, financially, emotionally and/or in an advisory capacity. No self-interest, payback or gratitude in the expectation were on any of their radars. God knows what motivated them. My best guess is that it must have been something that resonated from deep inside them, something that they genuinely believed in, and they saw me as deserving. Nana Cobbina-Scholten, Ghanaian Dutch, a wonderful friend of mine and the founder of Streets Kids Ghana (streetkidsghana.com) defines compassion as the ability ‘to suffer together’, the feeling that arises when you are confronted with another’s pain and feel motivated to relieve that. She decided to reach out to alleviate the hardship of street kids in the city of Koforidua and developed with likeminded individuals an integrated local initiative that creates foster homes, schooling, daily meals, and health care for youngsters that otherwise would be doomed to live and struggle for survival in the streets. Growing up in a relative affluent family herself, it was the compassionate values handed down to her by her father that motivated her to embrace an ethic that engages in acts of kindness to strangers, care without judgement. Working from the conviction that when we lift even only a handful, we are elevating mankind itself, including ourselves. The core of this inspirational message is that collectively we can transform suffering into personal and communal growth and that growing together makes us all stronger. If I had to describe the workings of compassion, I would say that it has at its base the acknowledgement that we are all human beings. It doesn’t matter whether people are beautiful or plain, friendly, or less so, ultimately, we all want happiness and we do not want to be in pain. When you recognize that we are all equal in both our desire for happiness and our right to obtain it, it’s not a big step to see that genuine compassion is not anchored in our own projections and expectations of what we think others should be or do, but rather in our sensitivity and kindness towards the needs of others. No matter how new the face looks or how different the dress or behaviour of that other is, there is in essence no significant division between us and other people. It believe it to be harmful to dwell on external differences because I choose to act on the premise that our basic natures are the same. My compassion is not aimed at changing who or how others are, it is about allowing others to be and where in my powers, enabling them to make the best out of who they are. Being able to play a modest part in this process also allows me to grow as a human being. Seeing the struggles of others, makes me aware that we are all fighting demons and that we are not unique in this. This awareness makes it easier to carry my own struggles. It helps to be more kind, more compassionate towards myself. It makes what I carry more bearable, more manageable. Compassion in feeling and action, kindness to myself and others, builds bridges towards a shared humanity. In allowing compassion to flow, I cultivate inner strength, self-confidence and reduce fear in moments of darkness and numbing solitude. Therefore, I argue, compassion is wholesome in two ways, it helps to see and contribute to the intrinsic values of others, and it brings calmness and happiness to ourselves. Compassion and kindness are without boundaries. They are, I keep reminding myself, not limited to any specific time, place, society, or culture. In my experience positive thoughts and acts always find their way back to you in greater inner strength and a more happiness. Compassion and kindness give rise to such essential things in life as hope, courage, faith in God, and confidence in the good of people and the universe. In being compassionate, my own pain becomes bearable, and we and the world more beautiful. Caroline Omondi