Funny, Sojourner. 🙂 I struggle with this, too, every day I work on my book. I’m still wondering if, to what extent, and how to temper my perspective about oppression with compassion.
In an email discussion group, once upon a time, one person was “hitting” others with “his truth” in a rather uncivil manner. One of my spiritual teachers was participating in the discussion and took the opportunity to point out to him that “What you say may be true, but if it is not delivered with compassion it is not Truth.” Note the lower case and upper case “t” and “T” in this statement, used to distinguish between relative truth and absolute Truth. So, the essence of Truth is actually Love expressed through qualities such as compassion and mercy.
Regarding the wounding of spirit, I think there’s an important difference to recognize between the common use of spirit to designate an aspect of a person’s emotions, and the more esoteric, spiritual use of Spirit to mean the divine essence around which one is embodied in the world. While one may become dispirited and lose enthusiasm and hope to varying degrees, and thus feel more or less deeply wounded, one’s essential Spirit always remains pure, strong and undamaged, even if it becomes cloaked and hidden beneath the wounds one acquires and the shields one erects to try to protect one’s self against further wounding.
The irony is that holding those wounds close and erecting those shields creates a shell around the heart, wherein the Spirit abides, such that the heart constricts and hardens, and this shell actually hinders the healing process. Only by relaxing, softening, opening and expanding the heart can one really experience the healing energy of Spirit radiating through one’s self as well as extending outward to interconnect with other beings.
The heart is the first organ that forms as we evolve from a fertilized egg into a human being. It is the essence of Life within us. It is unfortunate that we typically tend to try to live our lives so cut off from our hearts, partly in an attempt to try to protect our selves, while also allowing ourselves to become so dominated by our minds. Our minds play so many games and tricks and are capable of great injustice, but it’s not their nature to operate with the Heart qualities of Love, mercy and compassion. Knowledge resides in the mind while wisdom arises from the Heart.
Thank you for such thoughtful comments, Carl. Truth with a capital “T” is, as you point out so eloquently, based on love and compassion for ourselves and others. Ego-based notions that we may see as “the one truth,” that we sometimes judgmentally try to force onto others as you describe in your example, wound others and our own hearts and spirits. It’s not always an easy task to distinguish between these when faced with the suffering caused by violence and oppression.
The harder reality is that there is a short supply of truth and compassion, and an oversupply of falsehood and cruelty. Truth and compassion often remain trapped and pulverized between millstones of falsehood and cruelty.
I just ran across this quote in an article I will be posting. I thought it applies:
“Telling someone the truth is the most loving thing anyone can do. Of course it needs to be done wisely so as not to give a ready excuse for holding on to their illusion. That’s a clever mechanism that needs to be avoided. But there is also a time the truth hurts but still needs to be said. If it hurts, so be it. To withhold the truth from someone who is clearly in need of it is the most unloving and self serving thing any of us can do.
Let the chips fall where they may. Telling the truth is a fundamental form of love.”
Thank you for sharing this, Sojourner. After I posted this, I kept thinking of an old poem I recited in third grade. It made a lasting impression, although the religious overtones of some of the verses (then and now) are things I question. (Here’s a link in case you’re interested: https://carolahand.wordpress.com/2014/01/03/the-fools-prayer/).
I agree that the telling the truth can be a form of love, it can also be a weapon, even if well-intended. And sometimes, silence is the most compassionate alternative, allowing people the dignity and space to find their own paths to truth. Just my humble thoughts…
If people’s live are at stake, and there is a concerted effort to silence the truth that could/would save them, then speaking the truth, in a harsh and confrontational manner, may be not only appropriate but necessary.
However, this approach, even though one might consider it necessary, might not work or even have the reverse effect.
The article I’m going to post is speaking of truth tellers being silenced by the manipulation and fear tactics of those in power.
But I agree, when it comes to attempting to help someone with the truth, it must be handled in a way that doesn’t bludgeon and/or drive the person away from the truth.
In either case, Carol, I am not very good at this. So the lord needs to have mercy on me, the fool!
Very true!
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Thank you for your comment, Alok 🙂
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WOW!!! That’s pretty heavy, Carol.
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Thank you for your comments, TJ. The importance of compassion is something I continue to think about and struggle with as I write about injustice.
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I understand… And you’re so welcome.
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Very insightful as always Carol!
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Thank you for your kind words, Lynz 🙂
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Always insightful and informative!
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❤
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Forsooth, Carol.
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Thank you, Eric.
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We always enjoy your insights, Carol. Today’s gem came to us as we are preparing a note to a relative, and we’ll keep your advice in mind!
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Thank you for your thoughtful comments, Buster, I’m glad to hear these thoughts were a timely reminder. 🙂
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Carol, you’ve been reading my posts and comments!;-)
I struggle with this. I always have.
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Funny, Sojourner. 🙂 I struggle with this, too, every day I work on my book. I’m still wondering if, to what extent, and how to temper my perspective about oppression with compassion.
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If there is anyone who can overcome this, Carol, it is you!
Just rely on that bright spirit of yours, which lights you and all of us up!
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Thank you for your consistently kind words, dear friend ❤
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Are you familiar with this poet and author?
https://jamborobyn.wordpress.com/
You both are light in this darkness!
I’m giving you site url to her as well!
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Thank you for sharing this link, Sojourner. Robyn’s work is beautiful.
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I come to her blog, and yours, to get my sanity back! You both have a wise and loving spirit, which the rest of us need so badly right now.
We thank the both of you!
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Oh wow, how powerful and profound, Carol! I love it. Hugs, N 🙂 ❤
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Thank you for your lovely comments, Natalie ❤
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Reblogged this on Sacred Touches.
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Thank you for sharing this on your lovely blog, Natalie. I’m deeply honored ❤
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You are so welcome Carol! 😊❤️😘
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Well said.
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Thank you, Cynthia. ❤
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In an email discussion group, once upon a time, one person was “hitting” others with “his truth” in a rather uncivil manner. One of my spiritual teachers was participating in the discussion and took the opportunity to point out to him that “What you say may be true, but if it is not delivered with compassion it is not Truth.” Note the lower case and upper case “t” and “T” in this statement, used to distinguish between relative truth and absolute Truth. So, the essence of Truth is actually Love expressed through qualities such as compassion and mercy.
Regarding the wounding of spirit, I think there’s an important difference to recognize between the common use of spirit to designate an aspect of a person’s emotions, and the more esoteric, spiritual use of Spirit to mean the divine essence around which one is embodied in the world. While one may become dispirited and lose enthusiasm and hope to varying degrees, and thus feel more or less deeply wounded, one’s essential Spirit always remains pure, strong and undamaged, even if it becomes cloaked and hidden beneath the wounds one acquires and the shields one erects to try to protect one’s self against further wounding.
The irony is that holding those wounds close and erecting those shields creates a shell around the heart, wherein the Spirit abides, such that the heart constricts and hardens, and this shell actually hinders the healing process. Only by relaxing, softening, opening and expanding the heart can one really experience the healing energy of Spirit radiating through one’s self as well as extending outward to interconnect with other beings.
The heart is the first organ that forms as we evolve from a fertilized egg into a human being. It is the essence of Life within us. It is unfortunate that we typically tend to try to live our lives so cut off from our hearts, partly in an attempt to try to protect our selves, while also allowing ourselves to become so dominated by our minds. Our minds play so many games and tricks and are capable of great injustice, but it’s not their nature to operate with the Heart qualities of Love, mercy and compassion. Knowledge resides in the mind while wisdom arises from the Heart.
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Thank you for such thoughtful comments, Carl. Truth with a capital “T” is, as you point out so eloquently, based on love and compassion for ourselves and others. Ego-based notions that we may see as “the one truth,” that we sometimes judgmentally try to force onto others as you describe in your example, wound others and our own hearts and spirits. It’s not always an easy task to distinguish between these when faced with the suffering caused by violence and oppression.
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The harder reality is that there is a short supply of truth and compassion, and an oversupply of falsehood and cruelty. Truth and compassion often remain trapped and pulverized between millstones of falsehood and cruelty.
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Profound insights and eloquently-said, Raj. Thank you.
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Carol,
I just ran across this quote in an article I will be posting. I thought it applies:
“Telling someone the truth is the most loving thing anyone can do. Of course it needs to be done wisely so as not to give a ready excuse for holding on to their illusion. That’s a clever mechanism that needs to be avoided. But there is also a time the truth hurts but still needs to be said. If it hurts, so be it. To withhold the truth from someone who is clearly in need of it is the most unloving and self serving thing any of us can do.
Let the chips fall where they may. Telling the truth is a fundamental form of love.”
Synchronicity at play, perhaps?
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Thank you for sharing this, Sojourner. After I posted this, I kept thinking of an old poem I recited in third grade. It made a lasting impression, although the religious overtones of some of the verses (then and now) are things I question. (Here’s a link in case you’re interested: https://carolahand.wordpress.com/2014/01/03/the-fools-prayer/).
I agree that the telling the truth can be a form of love, it can also be a weapon, even if well-intended. And sometimes, silence is the most compassionate alternative, allowing people the dignity and space to find their own paths to truth. Just my humble thoughts…
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I hear you and what the poem is saying.
If people’s live are at stake, and there is a concerted effort to silence the truth that could/would save them, then speaking the truth, in a harsh and confrontational manner, may be not only appropriate but necessary.
However, this approach, even though one might consider it necessary, might not work or even have the reverse effect.
The article I’m going to post is speaking of truth tellers being silenced by the manipulation and fear tactics of those in power.
But I agree, when it comes to attempting to help someone with the truth, it must be handled in a way that doesn’t bludgeon and/or drive the person away from the truth.
In either case, Carol, I am not very good at this. So the lord needs to have mercy on me, the fool!
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Thank you for such thoughtful comments, Sojourner 🙂
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