Awakening Compassion as a Path Towards Fulfillment

Most people who are spiritual are aware of the importance of feeling compassion for others. But I believe most of us are not fully aware of the need for continuous deepening of our compassion if we are to achieve the purpose for which we came into this world.

One of the great teachers in this regard is the biblical figure Moses. He lived at a time of great misery and darkness, when the Israelites were under a forced labor decree, all male babies were killed, and endless suffering ensued. Moses, after his birth, was found by Pharaoh’s daughter and grew up in a comfortable environment and was shielded from the suffering that was occurring throughout Egypt. However, the Bible relates that Moses would go out every day and see the pain, suffering, and death happening outside. He not only saw and felt pain but also spent many hours a day meditating and focusing on what he saw so that he could internalize the pain, feel it as his own, and grow his feelings of compassion.

The kabbalists write, “He focused his eyes and heart to pain for them.” The message is clear – compassion is work. It is not in our nature to experience something outside ourselves, for example, someone born rich cannot feel the hunger of the poor man.

However, it was precisely because of this constant work of experiencing and awakening the greater feelings of compassion that Moses ultimately achieved the potential of his soul and was able to accomplish the purpose for which he came into this world.

Constant awakening and growth in this way will enable all of us to manifest the potential of our lives. It begins with pushing ourselves on a regular basis to find new ways to feel the pain of those around us, especially the people we deal with every day whose feelings we often don’t consider.

There is a beautiful story that can help you further internalize this idea. Before Moses was called on to become the leader of the Israelites, the level of his compassion was tested through his work as a shepherd. One day a young goat ran away from the rest of the flock, and Moses ran after the kid for some time until it finally reached a pool of water and began to drink. Moses cried out and said to the little goat, “I am so sorry, I did not know that you were thirsty.” He then picked up the goat, cradled it and carried it back to the rest of the flock.

Upon seeing this love and care, the Creator said, “You are merciful in tending sheep, you can now take care of people and be the leader and redeemer of the Israelites.” Only after showing real love and compassion to the animals in his flock was Moses deemed fit enough to become a leader of people.

The lesson the kabbalists are teaching us is we can achieve the purpose for which we came to this world, the potential of our soul, true and lasting fulfillment, with a constant growing of compassion towards others.

Knowing this, let us ask ourselves everyday, “How much time do I spend seeing others’ pain and internalizing it? What am I doing to grow my feelings of compassion and care for others?” As we make this work the focus of our lives, we will reveal more Light and blessings for ourselves and for others, and we will know for certain that we are on the true path towards lasting fulfillment.

Curves in the Road

One of my favorite quotes from my father, the Rav, is: our goal in life is to leave this world a different person than the way we entered. This is, in a nutshell, the kabbalistic view of life - it’s about constant change and growth.

One of the ways we are assisted in achieving this purpose is by being pushed in a different direction than we set for ourselves – or being pushed off it altogether. In the course of our lives, we set important goals that we work towards completing. But the Rav is teaching us that what really counts is that we are changed in the process of attaining our goals.

It’s about the journey – not the destination.

Yes, goals are essential, for without them we would be directionless. However, their achievement is not why we were born. We were born to change. But, oftentimes the moment something gets in the way of our plans, we become disappointed.

A new way of viewing this is that there is a greater process at work that is constantly working to assist us in our personal process of change. It’s about shifting our consciousness and enjoying the process. To better understand this, we can use the example of Abraham, who most of us know as the first person to come to an understanding of the Creator, on his own. When God first communicates to Abraham, it is to tell him,

“Go from your house, go from where you were born, and go to a place I will show you.”

The Kabbalists ask an important question, “Why doesn’t God tell Abraham where he’s going?”

In this question we find the first message given to Abraham: if you are going to accomplish your mission in this world, you must know it’s not about where you are going, but about the changes you go through in order to get there.

Another deeper concept is that it’s safe to assume most of us want to get beyond the place where we are now. We want to be better, more fulfilled, more conscious and aware. Yet, this place we are striving towards is beyond us, so how can we see it? We can’t. It is a logical fallacy.

Therefore, the Creator is teaching Abraham - and all humanity - that the basis of all our spiritual work, our purpose, will only become manifest when we go through a process that is sometimes lacking in clarity, a process we don’t always understand, a process that to our mind takes us off the goals we want to accomplish.

The change we have to go through during the process is what’s most important.

In my own life, teachers sometimes share with me their frustration at not reaching as many people as they had hoped to reach. I remind them that while we need goals, our uppermost desire is the change that will come from the process, not the goals themselves.

When we truly internalize this idea, the complications that contort the straight path we had hoped to continue upon won’t upset us. In fact, we will embrace them.

There is a beautiful verse from Isaiah: “those who walk in darkness will see the great light.” What this wonderful line teaches us is that the road of life is often difficult and dark, and at times we can feel like we are completely off the path. And yet, paradoxically, it is the process of pushing - despite lacking clarity - that will give us clarity and bring us closer to seeing great blessings in our lives.

To truly internalize this teaching, when your plans and goals are derailed or interrupted, instead of being crushed and filled with doubt, get excited about it and continue pushing. Continue asking where you can reveal Light and become aware that life is leading you through this because it is the best way for you to change and reveal your potential, now.

Trust the process. Know that what happens to you through the challenges, changes and curves on the road to your goal is the goal.

Why Relationships Work

I would like to share with you an article of mine about relationships that is now on my friend Gwyneth Paltrow’s website, GOOP. I hope it inspires you.

“Logic dictates that long term relationships are not the natural order of things. When you bring two egos together, naturally they will clash. No wonder the divorce rate is so high…” Click HERE
to read more.