COMPASSION FOR JAPAN

"What is compassion?" asks Sogyal Rinpcohe. "It is not simply a sense of sympathy or caring for the person suffering, not simply a warmth of heart toward the person before you, or a sharp clarity of recognition of their needs and pain, it is also a sustained and practical determination to do whatever is possible and necessary to help alleviate their suffering."

As someone who has a close connection to Japan and its people by reason of my being a member of a Japanese Buddhist temple in Sydney, Australia and having many Japanese friends, I send my heartfelt thoughts and prayers to the people who have been affected by the earthquake which hit the north-eastern coast of Japan on 11 March 2011.

Unless it be unsafe to do so, I will be travelling to Japan next month, where I will offer spiritual consolation for those who have perished. [NOTE. It was not until June 2011 that I was able to make the trip to Japan.]

This web article from Shinnyo-en gives some information on the crisis and on what one Buddhist denomination is doing by way of response.

May the consolation, loving kindness and compassion of the Buddha heart radiate out to all who have suffered as well as to all who will continue to suffer in the days, weeks, months and years to come.

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