Karen Miscall-Bannon - Compassion Is…
Karen is an amazing yogi and educator. KMB Yoga is where you can find more of her knowledge. She is also the Director of Programs for Mindful Yoga Therapy, which is how I met her. I always enjoy listening to Karen talk about all-things yoga as she has a unique way of making complex subjects seem not so complex.
Karuṇā is a Sanskrit word for compassion. In Latin it means “with passion” referring to Christ’s suffering on the cross. There is an understanding of the suffering involved in both languages. Compassion implies active sympathy. In the Sanskrit language, words do not represent ideas or things –they are the thing. By repeating the sound karuṇā, we create a state of compassion. This is some of the wisdom behind the magic of mantra practice.
For many of us, compassion is a feeling that is more easily conjured up for someone else. When we see someone else suffering, for example, many of us are able to “feel” some sort of pathos for them. Some would argue (my therapist is one!) that in order to truly feel compassion for another, we must first cultivate compassion for ourselves. It has been something that I’ve been working on in my personal practice for many years. I emphasize practice here! As with anything we want to learn (an āsana, breathing, or meditation technique; or even learning a language or music) we need to practice it.
Part of self-compassion is being willing to take a hard look at what I’ve done and how I’ve treated myself. We all do this I think: I think and say things about myself that I would never dream of saying to or about someone else. I used to be so strict with myself –punishing myself was how I navigated. Now, I’m a bit more gentle with myself. I still hold myself accountable, but not more or not less than anyone else. I imagine myself being accountable and kind. Like I would with someone else!
Acknowledging pain and suffering as part of the human experience; compassion is mentioned in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Pada 1, verse 33:
the mind becomes clear and serene when the qualities of the heart are cultivated:
friendliness toward the joyful,
compassion toward the suffering,
happiness toward the pure,
and impartiality toward the impure
And later in Pada 3 verse 23:
From saṃyama (turning attention inward) on friendliness, compassion, and happiness, these qualities blossom.
Shearer, Alistair. The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali (Sacred Teachings). Potter/TenSpeed/Harmony. Kindle Edition.
According to the Yoga Sutras, one of the many texts on Yoga, compassion is to be cultivated and when considered and studied, we reinforce and create those qualities. Here we are directed to replace habits that are contrary to the Yamas, with good habits, or pratipakṣābhavanam (2.33). In addition to meditating on and considering compassion towards those suffering –including ourselves, we create more karuṇā, which aids in clearing the mind; which is for Patanjali, the point of Yoga –to clear and still the mind and abide in the {liberated} Self. (YS 1.3)
