What Are the Barriers to Compassion?

Your ideas and insights will help generate a list of ideas to Take Action in 2008-09. Please add your voice by choosing 'Add Comment' at the bottom of the page.

Economic Inequity and Social Injustice

1. Politics and economic disparity are the greatest roadblocks, reflecting human greed and the desire for power over others.
2. I think many of us already are "on the same page" with this list--fundamentalism, many "isms" lack of basics--shelter, food, water, comfort, tremendous disparity worldwide between the wealthy and the impoverished, world leaders including ours in the US who misuse and abuse language, the rule of law, the fundamental necessity for truth-telling, for understanding the pain of history--what to say, our work is cut out, it is urgent, it is about our survival, our spirits, our brokenness and the possibility for repair, our longings for human rights for all people, for basic dignity to be extended, and ultimately whether or not the beautiful earth will be sustainable.
3. There is a little-known Frank Capra movie called Meet John Doe in which a depressed, out-of-work man is made the subject of a newspaper series. He is suicidal and will kill himself if he does not soon get work. To support him, John Doe Clubs form, not just in his local community, but around the country. Their design is one of social support: the plumber trades his skill for the tailoring service he badly needs so that he will look good in church on Sunday. The mother who can't cook gets help cooking while she babysits for her neighbor. And communities disconnected from one another become what they are supposed to be, places of support, encouragement and compassion where suicidal John Does are much less likely to fall through the cracks (the movie is a bit more complex but this is the easy version).
4. Truth in Governance - too much of diplomacy is about obfuscation, rather than telling difficult truths. In recent years several countries, most recently Australia, have apologized for their maltreatment of their native peoples, and for incarceration of peoples during wartime (Japanese in America). The United States, however has not wanted to have the conversation about our aboriginal natives or our previously enslaved peoples. While it is wonderful to spread peace in the world, the statement that charity begins at home is powerfully meant. If enacted, it gives our people a lesson in the power of a government that means what it says. Recently Michelle Obama was criticized for saying that she was proud of her country for the first time in her life. People of color knew immediately what she meant. She had always been proud of her country, but not of her government, which has not always acted kindly or compassionately.

Lifestyle

1. OURSELVES and the actions and institutions created by other incomplete human beings with limited knowledge of the heart...
2. In our work with The Compassionate Listening Project, we believe that any act of 'violence' (even just criticism or judgment)... there is in an unhealed wound. When we are seen and heard and connect at the level of our pure core -- that 4 year old -- there is space for transformation and healing and our hearts melt. "Love is the answer" -- fear keeps us separated from each other and from ourselves.
3. Worries about financial insecurity/unemployment; being overworked and tired. * Being too concerned about themselves or self-centered. * Societal influence about having to spend time and money on oneself in order to be happy. * Tendency to see poor and/or handicapped people as invisible. * Thinking that someone else will help people in need. * America's myth of individualism and self-reliance (those in need are just lazy). * Lack of coordination in directing collections and distribution of resources and help.
4. Money and commercial choices.
5. Acting on our own verbal intentions.

Lack of Knowledge

1. The only barrier is lack of knowledge that leads to enlightenment.
2. Ignorance, business, constant distractions such as Internet, shopping, etc.
3. Comparing our best with their worst.

Fear and Selfishness

1. Fear, being too rushed, being too busy, selfishness, assuming the worst in others, being judgmental, believing a story about ourselves and our place in the world that is untrue.
2. Fear and how it is used to manipulate people all over the world by the unscrupulous.
3. Our reptilian instincts to protect and defend.
4. Human nature. The instinct for altruism and empathy is built in, but so are instincts for competition and aggression. We have to constantly nurture one set of impulses and constrain the other. Popular media are largely indifferent to the social and moral impact of their products. Much popular media--music, movies, and video games reinforce aggressive thinking and behavior. Tribal religions, including the largest religions in the world, continue to make exclusive truth claims and downgrade the humanity of nonmembers.
5. Most forms of spirituality are esoteric and "me" centered - so is most religion for that matter. What we need are models of otherliness—a spirituality of serving—a spirituality for the sake of others.