In my daily life, feelings of gratitude spontaneously arise, and during meditation, I am filled with gratitude, and I engage in meditation to simply express gratitude, saying "Thank you."

However, it seems that this has not yet reached the level of compassion.

That being said, I have a feeling that compassion exists on the extension of this.

In the world, compassion and love are often understood separately from meditation, but in my own experience, there is a clear connection between meditation's "awakened consciousness" and "love" (and compassion).

While it may be understood that compassion is separate from awakened consciousness (through meditation or sports, etc.), I believe that these two are inseparable in reality.

I feel that when one achieves awakened consciousness through meditation, feelings of love and gratitude emerge.

In the teachings and practices of Mahayana Buddhism, the unification of emptiness and great compassion is considered the most important principle. This is the very essence of Mahayana teachings. However, true, genuine compassion cannot arise unless wisdom and awakened awareness are not separate but are one. "Rainbow and Crystal" by Namkai Norbu.

In many schools of thought, the pure state of mind and the state of stillness are considered the goal of enlightenment, but I believe that unless one reaches a level where emptiness (the pure state of mind) and compassion (love, gratitude, and service) become one, it cannot be called enlightenment.

Based on this hierarchy, I feel a certain amount of gratitude and what I believe to be some genuine love, although it is not yet at the level of compassion. I think the direction is correct. To reach the level of compassion, I think I still need to deepen my love.

Currently, while I am grateful, it is still gratitude and love for my own existence and the environment in which I am placed. I can feel that "it is wonderful," but it has not yet become the compassionate heart that extends to others. However, I understand that the direction is towards that, so I don't think I am completely wrong.

Therefore, compassion is a "result," and the "action" of compassion does not exist. Instead, "compassion" arises as a result of practices, and this compassion forms the basis for "new actions." However, compassion itself is not an "action." It is not an action, so it does not become something like "performing compassion." There may be situations where "compassion arises as a result of doing something," or "because of feelings of compassion, I do something," but the action itself is not compassion. There are actions that are accompanied by compassion, but that is just a matter of expression. In reality, compassion does not become the action itself, and one of them comes first.

However, in reality, compassion is generally understood as an action, and there is a tendency to believe that specific acts of service that are recognized by society are considered compassion. Therefore, there is often a form of social pressure or "one-upmanship" that says "one should serve for the sake of compassion," as if simply taking action is enough to be considered compassionate. As a result, there is a tendency to judge others based on their specific actions. However, in reality, while the "result" may appear that way, the "process" is different.

In society, compassion and action are often understood as being the same thing, and this is a useful metaphor. However, in reality, compassion and action are separate things. Either compassion arises as a result of action, or action arises as a result of compassion. Of course, the latter can be called "compassionate action," but that is the logical truth. And for those who truly have compassion, it is true. However, when looking at society, it is up to each individual to determine how many people truly have compassion and are acting compassionately. In most cases, people do not have compassion, but are simply acting in accordance with general common sense or social pressure that is considered compassionate in society. If that is the case, then generally, compassion and action are not the same thing.

For those who have a certain degree of enlightenment, compassionate action is possible. However, for ordinary people, these are separate. The "process" by which ordinary people discover compassion is through practices such as meditation and samadhi, in which they understand emptiness and love, and eventually awaken to love and compassion.

There are many people who are trying to learn love and compassion through "actions" such as volunteer work. However, I think that is a difficult path. It may be good for those who have a certain foundation to overcome the final hurdle, but logically, "unpaid service" is not necessarily required to obtain compassion and love.

As I have said repeatedly, "love and compassion" are the "results." It is through the "results" of practice that one obtains compassion and love and understands the meaning of "unpaid service." The order is the reverse. If you reverse the order and first engage in some kind of "unpaid service" without any clear understanding, and then try to understand some vaguely explained "love and compassion," it is unlikely that you will understand it easily. Personally, I am opposed to such "pseudo-practices" that lack understanding and "do not feel right." Although I say "opposed," I simply do not do it myself, and if someone wants to do it, they should feel free to do so. However, in many cases, people engage in "actions" to cover up the fact that they do not understand love or compassion, and they mistakenly believe that they understand love or compassion. Because they do not understand the motivation behind their actions, they sometimes take a condescending attitude towards others, such as saying "you don't understand." I am concerned that such misguided "unpaid service" by volunteers or, in yoga terms, karma yogis may actually lead them further away from enlightenment.

Well, even so, since it's something other people are doing, they should be free to do as they please. Even that can be a form of play, and if you enjoy it, anything can lead to enlightenment. People who are enjoying themselves don't necessarily need to get involved in such troublesome things, but some people may find enjoyment even without special training, and they may spontaneously attain enlightenment. Sometimes, I even think that actions and enlightenment may not be that closely related.

While everything can be considered a form of play, there is still a certain path of practice, and one of them is the story of understanding emptiness and love through meditation, as mentioned above. I think that without that foundation, true compassion may not emerge. On the other hand, if someone follows the teachings of a certain school and honestly says, "I don't know compassion, so I am doing karma yoga to learn it," that is quite honest. Therefore, volunteers and karma yogis are not necessarily strange, and while there are people who are misinterpreting things and acting conspicuously, there are also people who are practicing diligently in their own way.

In Buddhism and yoga, compassion is very important, but in reality, it seems that the word "compassion" is often used so much that people no longer understand what compassion actually is. I, too, had a vague understanding of compassion, but recently, I have reached a state where a natural feeling of gratitude arises from the heart, simply feeling "thankful." It seems that compassion and the tranquil state of meditation are connected, and that both are expressions of my own true nature. As you approach enlightenment, your understanding of this pure state and your understanding of compassion deepen.

Therefore, I think that compassion is not just a moral principle, but an important attribute that is linked to the state of enlightenment.

Because of this, I feel that people may be trying to cram too much into their heads from the beginning, and that while they may understand what compassion is, they may end up ignoring it, or they may simply think they understand it.

A pure state and a peaceful state are the state of the mind. However, there is a state where even if thoughts arise, the mind is not disturbed. As Zokchen and Vedanta say, a pure state and a peaceful mind are the "foundation." (Therefore, as the Exoteric and Esoteric teachings say, the goal is not a state with no thoughts at all.) The waves of the mind and the waves of thought are constantly arising and disappearing, so you should let them flow without being caught. This is one aspect of the state of enlightenment. Even when we talk about letting go of thoughts, it is actually a state of sharp observation and clear thinking, which is a state of non-attachment to thoughts. By practicing samadhi through meditation or daily life, the mind becomes calmer, and you are no longer easily swayed by distractions. In such a state, your true nature (rikpa in Zokchen) becomes clear, and then, starting from a simple state of peace, a feeling of gratitude arises, and then, compassion opens up.

If that is the case, compassion is not something that can be easily acquired through simple actions, thoughts, or prayers. Rather, it is something that opens up only after achieving a certain foundation of tranquility and stillness.