identity with the suffering

The left hand is caught and the right hand pulls it out. 

The left hand turns to the right and says ‘thank you.’ 

It doesn’t work because they are both parts of the same body.

 Who are you thanking?

 You’re thanking yourself.

 So on that plane you realize it’s not her suffering,

 his suffering, or their suffering.

You go up one level, it’s our suffering. 

You go up another level, it’s my suffering. 

Then as it gets de-personalized, it’s the suffering. 

Out of the identity with the suffering comes compassion.

 It arises in relation to the suffering. 

It’s part and parcel of the whole package. 

There is nothing personal in this at all.

In that sense, you have become compassion

 instead of doing compassionate acts. 

Instead of being compassionate, 

you are compassion.

~ Ram Dass