By DR. RAYMOND ANGELINI For The Saratogian

It seems we are constantly being inundated by the media with images of human suffering. We have to look no further than our morning papers for evidence of this. How do we meaningfully and effectively respond to such suffering and tragedy?

I believe that one of the most natural responses to human suffering is to tune it out or ignore it. However, the first step to spiritual enlightenment and social change requires that we bear a compassionate witness to human suffering. Even if there is nothing we can specifically do to help someone who is suffering, there is tremendous spiritual power in remaining aware during someones time of trial.

Buddha was born a wealthy prince. His father, in an attempt to protect him from the trials and tribulations of life, built a wall around the palace. However, Buddha knew that there was much more to life than what was contained within the walls of his fathers palace. Buddha realized that he had to experience suffering to become truly human. Buddha believed that we must open our hearts to suffering in order to become instruments for its transcendence.

This openness to human suffering is called compassion. Compassion is not merely an emotion, it is a spiritual force. It is Gods spirit in action. As Marianne Williamson says in her book, Everyday Grace, Humanitys next great leap in consciousness will be that love is a power to be applied no less than the power of steam or the power of the atom.

So how do we allow the force of compassion to become active in our lives? Every time we bring a meal to a shut-in, hold the hand of a dying friend or take political action to bring about more just social policies, we are practicing active compassion.

However, individual acts of compassion will not in and of themselves be enough to bring about the transformation that is needed. We must strive as a nation and a world to make love and compassion the center of all of our personal, social, political and economic enterprises.

We are at a crossroads in human history. We must all make a choice whether money and power or love and compassion will form the future foundation of our society. If we fail to make a decision, life will make the decision for us. We can either consciously make the decision through wisdom, or unconsciously make it through pain.

I firmly believe that it is Gods will that we become loving and compassionate. I believe that we will ultimately get there, but how we get there, and how soon, is up to us.

Dr. Raymond Angelini is a licensed psychologist and a business and personal coach. His column is published in The Saratogian on the last Saturday of each month. Mail questions to Raymond F. Angelini, Ph.D, P.O. Box 4816, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866, or email newhorizons@spa.net.

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Your Higher Self: Compassion is key response to human suffering