Buddhist Acts of Compassion

by Pamela Bloom, Joan Halifax (Foreword)

"My religion is compassion," the Dalai Lama has said. Indeed, the vow to be of benefit to others lies at the heart of Buddhist practice. This book collects dozens of profound and moving stories of true compassion. From the Buddhist monk who offered his body to starving animals, to modern Western practitioners who use Buddhist principles for healing and social reform, these stories inspire with their depth, tenderness, humor, and occasional outrageousness. Included are tales of the "crazy wisdom" kindness practiced by many masters in the Tibetan and Zen traditions, as well as selections from the best-loved Buddhist figures of today, including Sogyal Rinpoche, Sharon Salzberg, Thich Nhat Hanh, and the Dalai Lama.

Genres: Nonfiction, Buddhism

170 pages, Paperback

First published November 12, 2000

Reviews

[Mrinalini Batra · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fabulous collection of short stories! Extremely practical stories from around the world. This is not a religious book instead talks of basic human reactions.

[Kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

Favorite quotes:
"Why were they doing that?... How could they waste their precious human existence?...This life that is so short, so tenuous, so precious, so valuable, so necessary, a life not to be squandered but to be used impeccably and usefully for the benefit and welfare of all-a life to be used to think about the future in the next life, not just to lounge around all day in the hot sun like a sleeping lizard!...I just wasnted to go wake them up!" (87)

"I hate it. I don't know what to do"... I thought perhaps he was trying to figure out how to criticize me or put me in my place, but then he took a deep breath and said very, very slowly, "I think-if you continue to practice-in ten or fifteen years-it is-going to -easier."...I was stunned. I almost thought he was joking...But if he hadn't said it to me then, I don't think I would have ever had the courage and the motivation to continue...How often we think that the only way to improve upon that which needs growth is to criticize. (97)

"Aren't you angry too?" "Yes," she replied, "but I also love them, sweetheart, and they are so afraid." ...She taught me with those simple words that anger and compassion were not mutually exclusive. (99)

In the midst of this terrible time, I realized there was something there that I wasn't seeing and that was the witness inside me. It felt revolutionary to realize that I am not my anger, not my depression, not my sadness; these are just mind-states that come and go.

[Ruth Soz · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of very short true stories of compassion in the Buddhist tradition. Something great to pick up if you're looking for a mood lifter. I actually enjoyed the submissions by the book's editor (Pamela Bloom) the most.

[Bryce Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of anecdotes about the power of compassion in real life. It would be tempting to write this collection off as "Chicken Soup For The Buddhist Soul" but there is simply no way to disregard how touching it can be to see the effect that good can have in the world.

[Mckinley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short stories about compassion from a variety of contributors.