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Competition was the essence of my life experience through college. It was all about performance. Your personal, social, and societal status was totally based upon your membership in different organizations, clubs, sports, activities, not to mention school. If you failed to perform for one reason or another, you were simply “out” or considered “a loser” because you “failed to measure up to something”.

As an adult, nothing could be farther from the essence and truth of our human experience than competition. Competition creates and fosters hatred, separation and animosity, to just scratch the surface. Wars have come into being due to competition. Just look at Helen of Troy - ultimately two nations went to war to win Helen. Such is the incredible power of competition.

Compassion, on the other hand, is a feeling of unconditional connection with others that is not based upon performance in any way. Rather, this connection is the simple result of “being”. Compassion is a powerful spiritual energy that allows for healing to take place. In the late 1990s, I had the opportunity to meet a very prominent Tibetan Lama who listened with great attention to my questions and concerns about life. It brought me to tears, because I had experienced compassion for the first time in my life - true spiritual compassion. His listening was the greatest act of love I had ever experienced, and he had no self-interest to get in the way of true listening. For this reason, I ask you to consider the place of compassion in your life. Do you feel disconnected with others? Then practice some compassion. It will change your life for the better - forever. Here are ten reasons to practice:

1. Conversation. People will be glad to know that you are really listening to them.

2. Work. Co-workers will be glad to know that you are working with collaboration in mind.

3. School. Teachers will be glad to see students paying attention to their lessons.

4. Family. Family members will be glad to see you helping in group activities around the house.

5. Morale. Compassion boosts morale greatly when there is great stress and tension.

6. Mental Health. Compassion allows the mind to heal knowing that a friendly presence is nearby.

7. Physical Health. Compassion allows the physical body to heal.

8. Creativity. Compassion allows the mind to once again tap into its innate creative forces.

9. Relationships. People with compassion are generally more able to reciprocate in relationships.

10. Peace. Compassion gives one the inner power to change things for the better, just by small acts of kindness. This generates within the practitioner a great sense of inner peace.

Tags: buddha //