To help others

we need a calm, clear mind.

Empathizing with another person, we feel what he feels. And his suffering suddenly becomes ours. One might wonder, Isn’t this a good thing? The way a caring person reacts to another’s suffering? If we don’t handle the suffering correctly, no.

When the Buddha encountered those who were suffering, he clearly saw their suffering. But if he had taken it all in—like a sponge absorbing water—it would have tainted his calm, clear mind. Instead, he saw the suffering perfectly and, knowing what conditions the person had or didn’t have, intuitively knew how to help, what to say.

But for us, we are a sponge when we encounter others suffering. We’re like a person who jumps into a raging river to save a drowning man. Unable to manage the swirling waters, we realize, too late, we’re drowning too!

The alternative?

View others’ suffering clearly. Then, react calmly. We have a choice as to how to respond to suffering. We can absorb it and, like a sponge, become more soiled with time. Or we can see it clearly and remain unstained while truly helping others.