“transform adversity into spiritual growth” (Tibetan ideal)

Donald Trump has been infected with the corona virus, as has his wife Melania and others in his entourage. My instant reaction: honestly? Serves him right, not wearing a mask/keeping social distance . . . denying the seriousness of the epidemic . . . that’s karma for ya . . . and so on.

Schadenfreude is an utterly human reaction arising from an ancient desire for revenge. If mindfulness practice has taught me anything, it’s to be on the lookout for automatic responses and to realize — in a flash — that I have a choice.

I can either be guided by the self-serving motivation to relish someone’s misfortune OR open my heart of compassion towards that being. Or, for an extra boost, visualize a 74-year old, overweight, stressed-out, easily excited man who suddenly finds himself in a high-risk category. Or, if that’s not enough to generate benevolence, imagine that my older brother or spiritual teacher have become infected. How would I react to their suffering? Or what if  it was me just received positive test results?

The Sanskrit word karuna is translated as compassion, etymologically it simply means kindness. “Both loving-kindness and compassion require that we first develop [these qualities] towards ourselves. A heart-felt, warm, and embracing acceptance of our own existence must replace any feelings of self-denigration and self-contempt. We must allow ourselves to yearn for our own well-being and happiness, our own freedom from suffering.” [1]

And extend that same ‚courtesy‘ to others in distress.

“May all beings be free from suffering — without a single exception.”

[1] Wallace, B. Allan. (2010). The four immeasurables: Practices to open the heart, p. 130. Photo credit: REUTERS/Carlos Barria