Avalokiteshvara had a headache. It was almost intolerable. Because of his good life he had the choice of moving beyond his body into the next life, or of staying and bearing the pain. He chose to stay, saying he would remain until all people were free of suffering. He is the Buddhist exemplar of compassion.
Sometimes the pain of the world is hard to hear about--what can I do? I can't stop bombings or senseless brutality. Every time I feel helpless in the face of our violent world I end up with the same conclusion: all I have to work with is me.
The world reflects what is in each of us. How can I change myself so no violence lives in me? That brings me back quickly to observing what is going on around me and seeing how I'm interacting with it. Am I as thoughtful as I could be? As tolerant? Am I reflexively negative?
The work of changing myself is there to do at every moment of the day. Every challenge is an opportunity. With each positive change I become a bit more conscious, and maybe the world becomes an iota more gentle. If all of us were to do that, what would happen?
The Chinese have a saying: Drinking a cup of green tea I change the world..
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