Compassionate Living: What Does it Mean?

The definition of "compassion" is "a deep awareness of the suffering of another, coupled with the wish to relieve it" (www.wiktionary.com). But, what is missing from the definition of compassion is the actual taking of action needed to relieve suffering. That is where compassionate living comes in. It is not enough to simply be deeply aware of another's suffering, nor is it enough to merely wish to relieve that suffering. What IS critically important is taking personal actions to actually relieve the suffering of others. There is great deal of suffering in our world and it's hard to know where to start. Our planet is suffering from human-induced pollution and climate change, billions of non-human animals suffer from inhumane treatment and unnecessary death, and humans all around the globe suffer from not having enough food or access to clean drinking water. Most of us are content to donate a couple of hundred bucks to charity each year and call it good; still others of us may choose a vegan lifestyle. But are any of us really doing enough? When is the last time that you went out of your way to reduce the suffering of another living thing? The truth of the matter is that we only give what is convenient for us to give or what is within our comfort level. Most of us really don't push ourselves on a continual basis. Unravelling the web of suffering can be difficult and the deck is definitely stacked against those who are the least powerful (typically the natural world, animals, and impoverished persons). One could argue that the practice of buying products from China has negative impacts on the environment and continues the opression of people; another could argue that the practice provides jobs and elevates the standard of living for otherwise impoverished Chinese people. Additionally, the very existence of many corporations and industries hinges upon how compassionately we live. For example, if enough people decided to leave off of meat because they wanted to reduce the suffering of billions of U.S. food animals, the agriculture, chemical, and feed companies would lose billions of dollars. Therefore, these entities are not above lying to and manipulating consumers into believing whatever it takes to keep the money rolling in. Furthermore, it is nearly impossible to live in a society as large as ours while completely eliminating all suffering. For example, buying organic products is absolutely the right thing to do for the Earth and its inhabitants, unfortunately most organic farms use by-products of the slaughter industry (i.e. bone meal) to fertilize their crops. In the face of all of this, it can be difficult to know what is right or wrong. The key to reducing suffering is to educate oneself and to critically analyze the factors and make a choice that is consistent with your beliefs and knowledge. Metaphorically speaking, we simply have to get off of the ride. It is no longer ethical to live a life of consumption without consideration for who or what was harmed or will be harmed in the production of each good or service. You do not have to become compassionte living overnight. You can start by switching from all of those household products that are tested on animals (Drano, comet, etc.), and move to humane products that are more earth friendly anyway (Seventh Generation, Method, etc.). Ultimately, the goal of living a compassionate life is to live in a manner where you cause very little or no suffering. But getting there is a journey that can be long and winding or short and direct. Where to start how to start; these are things that are yours to choose. But NOT starting to live a compassionate lifestyle, in this day in age, is simply not an option.