Ocean of Compassion

Pain is inevitable but suffering is optional. Especially because the very nature of human body bring pain together. It is similar to water that brings wet together. However, suffering is a series of choice. People can choose not to suffer, including not to suffer in the midst of pain.

Frozen Ice of Suffering

Any pain is like an arrow that is shot to someone. But there is the second arrow which is more painful, that is the very negative way one reacts. For example, terrorist bomb exploded, that is  the first dart. But accusing without enough evidence that certain religion is responsible behind the bombing, that is the second dart which is more painful later.

That is why in meditation emotions are classified into happy, sad and neutral. And the task of meditation is to be the fourth that keeps witnessing with smile. While the ordinary people are dangerously gripped by emotions then can be easily upset, inner inquiries in the path of meditation can have an enough distance to emotions.

To be honest, life is  like flowing water in the river. Peace happens  when one perfectly flow. Suffering occurs because the mind is frozen like ice - life must be like this, life has to be like that - then fail to flow. Meditation similar to the sun that can make frozen ice melted then flow.

Flowing River of Peace

In every frozen mind that has not been touched by meditation, duality battle without any sign to be ended. I am right you are wrong, people who are similar are friend, those who are different are enemy.  The inner inquiries who seriously sit in the fourth place as witness who keep smiling, can loosen the grip of this dualistic mind. Enlightenment even makes the mind as wide as space.

As a result, the fire of emotions no longer cause explosion of suffering because the container is large and wide. Some of the characteristics, one becomes more tolerant, forgiving, open to anything that may happen in life. This is one of the important fruits of meditation which is boundless capacity to suffer.

With this meditative attainment, the frozen ice of suffering melted. Then life flows like water in a river of peace. At the right time life will return back to the home of ocean.

The Infinite Ocean

In the ocean, life becomes infinite. Mainly because anything that comes to the ocean would be embraced gently without any discrimination. This is often called the ocean of compassion.

Mud, wood, stone, dirt, gold, food, whatever is welcomed by the ocean. This is the main reason why meditation at the level of perfection is to take a rest at this moment as it is. Consequently, not only the  mind and heart are widened, but one also able to provide infinite space for anything and anyone to grow.

If some parents give space of growth to children because they are forced by social norms, at this stage there is no compulsion. Compassion is something that arise naturally. It is as natural as ocean which is unlimited. In this level, people can choose not to suffer, at the same time also radiate compassion to pain, illness and those who create much suffering. As a result, terrorist bomb can explode anywhere. And since the mind has been as wide as space, it is no longer create suffering. On the contrary, terrorist bombing is a fountain of compassion. Especially because violence was not born to burn, violence was born to awaken our compassion.