The Three Monks present ‘Spread the Love NOW!’
Christmas is a time for giving. It’s a time for love, and a time to spread some Christmas loving cheer. Read on to see how you can participate, have some fun and be in the run to win a prize value of ~US$50, along with some really beautiful stories shared.
All you have to do is to write something on compassion. It could be anything you want; for example, your definition of compassion. Still, in the spirit of Christmas, extra ‘points’ will be awarded if there is a personal touch – because we want to connect in compassion.
Some ideas could be what you have done or will do for someone. Or perhaps the best kindness anyone has ever shown you.
Prizes
With thanks to The Now Watch, we’re able to give some Christmas gifts to the most compelling stories.
We have a total of 6 watches to give away, so the top 6 stories will each be sent a watch, as our thanks for sharing.
Why the Now Watch?
This is one of the most important lessons one could ever learn, one that we are glad is spreading across the planet. The vast majority of our unhappiness is caused by dwelling in the past, or trying to anticipate the future.
Most of our mental suffering is caused by thoughts such as:
The past: “I wish this never happened / they never did that.”
The future: “I hope that doesn’t happen.” “When I get this, then I will be at peace.”
This only causes us more pain, because the only time is Now. When the future gets here, it will be Now. The past only exists as memory. Being in the Now – that is the path towards the end of suffering.
This watch is a tool towards being in the Now – every time you check the time, you’ll realize that the present moment is all we have. And our painful mental habits begin to unravel.
The Rules of the Game
This is a joint effort by the Three Monks – Wade of The Middle Way, Kenton of kentonwhitman.com, and Albert of Urban Monk.Net.
The watches are kindly provided by the coolest timepiece company ever – The Now Watch.
To participate –
1) Write a post as described above. You’re encouraged, although not required, to link to all three of the judges.
2) Contact any one of us, either by emailing, or leaving a comment in one of the judge’s posts.
3) You’re encouraged also to spread the word, tag your friends, and ask them to participate.
4) On 5 January 2008, the three judges will look at all the entries, pick the winners, and publish a list, so we can all share the links and traffic.
5) The results will be posted on 10 January 2008 on all three judge’s blogs. Winners will be contacted for mailing address details so we can send the watches to you!
Kenton, it’s an honor to be a part of this project! Here is my story:
http://www.beyondzen.org/2007/12/21/a-story-of-compassion-and-dying/
Kris
Such a beautiful story to share, Kris =) Thank you.
Dear Kenton,
I can sincerely tell you that I have never been so excited to be
involved in a project….. Spread The Love … NOW….
YES !!!!!!
Here is my contribution…
http://deb_inside.typepad.com/deb_inside/2007/12/spread-the-love.html
xo xo
Deb
I’ll also participate in this project.
Keep it up…
Thanks
Kaash, Ash & You
The pleasure is all mine.
Kris
Hello Deb!
Thank you for such a wonderful writing on compassion! I love how you pulled in so many different perspectives — including the story from your own life. We’re excited as well — this is generating some beautiful and thought-provoking meditations on the nature of compassion. Thank you for being a part of this, Deb!
Sweetwater,
Kenton
Hello Kaash, Ash, and You =)
I’ll look forward to your participation!
Sweetwater,
Kenton
Compassion is best described as an understanding of the emotional state of another, according to Wikipedia.
Okay, let’s start there. I understand that you are suffering for whatever reason and thus I feel compassion for you.
Wikipedia goes on to say that compassion should not be confused with empathy. Compassion is often combined with a desire to alleviate or reduce the suffering of another; to show special kindness to those who suffer. Compassion may lead one to feel empathy with another person. Compassion is often characterized through actions, wherein a person acting with compassion will seek to aid those they feel compassionate for.
Good. My compassion will combine with a desire to do something to alleviate or reduce another’s suffering through kindness and giving aid.
Compassion to me, however, is not really compassion simply by feeling and by doing these things. I mean to say that one can understand, want to do something, empathize and even act to help lessen or stop the suffering of another; but if these thoughts and actions are done through a sense of obligation to one’s fellow man then this is not really compassion in my opinion.
Compassion is much more than the Wikipedia definition. It is a place in one’s own heart where witnessing the suffering of any person, animal, any plant or tree and even our environment, causes one to feel and to act, not out of any sense of it being the right thing to do; but because our innermost fiber, our DNA, our heart and soul cries in unison with these suffering aspects of our world.
True compassion is beyond a simple definition. It is so much more than a word which can be described as an adjective or even a verb – it transcends defining as a part of speech. It is having the same concern for that which is outside of yourself as you do for that which
makes up what we call our self.
I think I know what it is. Compassion is…. love. Now we have a better understanding of the word. Compassion is not compassion without love. But with love, true love in one’s heart, compassion is a way of life.
Finally, I believe it is possible to have compassion without love…but it is not possible to have love without also having compassion.
Kenton,
My article is also posted here:
http://jwsum.blogspot.com/
perhaps a better way to share with the other judges.
Have compassion, yes. But temper it with reason….
Each day I see those who are not well off. Those who need a helping hand. My heart goes out to many of them.
Especially now, at Christmas, it normal to want to spread compassion and help those he need it and deserve it. Just last month, I assisted a yo…
Kenton, you will find my article called Compassion, The Ultimate Act Of Love
posted at
http://patriciasingleton.blogspot.com/2007/12/compassion-ultimate-act-of-love.html
Thanks for spreading the love.
Hello Jerry! Thanks so much for sharing this with all of our readers!
Shawn, I appreciate your contribution — very interesting perspective.
And Patricia, thank you as always for sharing your wonderful energy with us all.
=)
Sweetwater,
Kenton
Kenton,
Have my post up at:
http://fractalforest.wordpress.com/2007/12/27/compassion-begins-with-myself/
I must say, I loved doing this. Cool initiative of you three.
As always, Vitor, I’m amazed at your insight and heartfelt writing. Thanks for sharing this.
Sweetwater,
Kenton
This writing on compassion was submitted by John Torcello. As he doesn’t have a blog of his own, I’ll be posting the submission here.
Can’t He See?…
Can’t he see how so many people are already providing for his
benefit? Can’t he see, in spite of himself, how he accepts and
benefits from their offerings everyday of his life?
How can he act so bitterly? What’s with this ‘look out for number one
attitude’ he repeatedly and defensively professes? How is it he can
distort the true nature of others’ compassionate acts to a proof, a
tool, that has no value?….no seeming payoff for him?
Could it be that he mistakenly envisions the world from only this
narrow perspective of his own best interest? Can he see the world and
his place in it clearly at all? How is it he can fool himself into
thinking this apparent narrow, arrogant perspective is the broad and
open view?
Why does he feel the pain he feels?
Could it be the internal conflict he’s suffering;…through his
denial…his missing the point…his constructed ego’s issues of self-
interest and self-definition…is simply colliding with the interests
of the general good; of which he is an unwilling member and
participant too?
Why won’t he see?…that every seemingly negative experience he feels
and obstacle he currently accepts as real only fills his life with
more feelings of nervousness, anxiety, expectation, and fear?
Why can’t he recognize this pain and suffering he is feeling is really
of his own creation?…in his mind…in the obstacles he creates for
others?…for himself?…because of his persistent actions motivated
toward his on-going egotistical manners and beliefs?
Why won’t he accept; just by changing his perspective in thought and
action, from a focus on his ego to his truly unique existence in this
time and place amongst the masses; that the supposed harm and
suffering he claims to feel, experience and rebel against; would have
no objective existence for him at all?
Why does he let this self-constructed and self-imposed ‘Frankenstein’,
this monster, he has so carefully crafted and constructed, and he so
falsely identifies with and clings to for ‘dear life’, remain as the
shallow definition he mistakenly understands and clings to?
When will he finally conjure up the courage and faith to destroy this
Frankenstein image of himself; recognizing it and letting it dissolve
away within him?
Why can’t he see the far greater and superior truthful value that’s
already there, always has been, inside his heart; which would
naturally lead him to expressions and actions for the benefit of
others from a perspective of the greater whole, the greater good?
Can’t he see that the resultant, actually non-existent, obstacles and
negativities he presently envisions, feels and beats himself up with
would hold no control or influence over him anymore?
If he were to try…to commit…to practice…this new way of thinking
and acting…
Would the results of this true test…this discovery of the non-
existence of his constructed obstacles and negativities…
demonstrate to him finally, at last, he has nothing left to fight
against, nothing to fear and no one to attack?
Sadly…He is me…
He is you…
He is WE…He is all of us…
I am he as you are he
as you are me and
we are all together…I’m crying.
John Lennon
Why can’t we see?
John Torcello
Dear Kenton,
Here is my submission for the endeavour that the three of you have put along.
Thanks for letting me be a part of it.
http://rawspeak.blogspot.com/2007/12/spread-love-now.html
Best regards,
Rahul
Dear Rahul,
As a person who LOVES horses, I felt a great connection with this story. Thank you.
Sweetwater,
Kenton
Hi Kenton,
I am here by way of Albert’s site. What a wonderful writing project! And it has introduced me to your blog, and to Wade’s. My spouse and I have already benefitted so much from Albert’s writings, particularly on the ego.
My entry, “The Last Thing I Wanted To Give” is posted at http://lawaters27.blogspot.com
Many thanks!
Waters
Hello Waters!
Thanks so much for your contribution =) I’m so glad that you’ve benefited from Albert’s site — he has so much to offer, and I’m lucky to be his friend! It’s amazing when someone shares their journey in the way that he is sharing.
I’m excited to read your entry!
Sweetwater,
Kenton
Dear Kenton,
Thanks for putting up my contribution. I was pondering about a title for my submission, and thought that we needed a little bit of horse sense in our lives. So finally settled on “A Sense of Equinity”.
Thanks,
Rahul
I love it! I’ve changed it above, as well.
Thanks, Rahul!
Kenton =)
Kenton:
Just wanted to let you know that I’ve participated in this project which you can see here:
http://www.adversityuniversityblog.com/2008/01/01/a-day-of-reflection-and-renewal-in-self-compassion/
Like Wade, you also have a nice blog! Glad to learn of you through my buddy Albert Foong
Dear Kenton
Thank you for the opportunity of being a part of your writing campaign
Have my post up at:
http://angelkissofdeath.blogspot.com/2008/01/spread-love-now.html
Greetings Stephen,
Thank you! I read your interview with Albert with great interest.
I certainly appreciate your contribution to this project.
Sweetwater,
Kenton
Thank you, Janice, for adding to the magic of this project! It’s certainly generated a lot of heartfelt contributions.
Sweetwater,
Kenton
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