how to enhance your compassion in 5 easy steps

after the body, mind, spirit festival and waiting for the light rail i met a woman from the compassion project team (www.The AvatarEPCpacific.com) who asked me to do the following exercise which i found very moving and would thus like to share with you:

whilst sitting in an airport, mall, park, beach unobtrusively and from some distance do the following five steps on the same person (they may well notice):

step 1

with your attention on the person, repeat to yourself: 'just like me, this person is seeking some happiness for his/her life'.

step 2

with your attention on the person, repeat to yourself: 'just like me, this person is trying to avoid suffering in his/her life'.

step 3

with attention on the person, repeat to yourself: 'just like me, this person has known sadness, loneliness and despair'.

step 4

with attention on the person, repeat to yourself: 'just like me, this person is seeking to fulfil his/her needs'.

step 5

with attention on the person, repeat to yourself: 'just like me, this person is learning about life'.

my view of the stranger changed so remarkable from the beginning of the exercise to the end of it that i felt truely compelled to share it with you and can only encourage you to try it.

it is suggested that you think these steps through with a sibling, a work colleague and with an antagonist.