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Attachment to Compassion "Is too much attachment to compassion good?" asked a student after Telo Tulku Rinpoche's Stanford talk on "The Power of Compassion". "Very good question" Telo replied, "I don't see any harm to it. I've known many generously compassionate people." Now, I ponder on too much attachment— Buddha said "Suffering comes from cravings" and prescribed the "Eight-Fold Path". Light and warmth from the sun is beneficial, but too much light can blind and kill us and few can bear the heat of Death Valley. A student gasped for air when his head was under water. His guru said, "If you desire enlightenment as much as air, then you'll have it." Another student got rid of all his cravings except his desire for enlightenment. His guru told him "Even that desire must go!" Buddha prescribed "The Middle Way" as best; Confucius taught "The Golden Mean"; and sages of Greece inscribed at Delphi "Nothing too much." Lao Tzu loved good and evil people alike. When asked about compassion for criminals, Confucius said "Treat evil ones with justice." — Peter Y. Chou Mountain View, 3-9-2013 |
Telo Tulku Rinpoche |