I Wish I Had Said That....~!

Each of us in our own way can try to spread compassion into people’s hearts. Western civilizations these days place great importance on filling the human 'brain' with knowledge, but no one seems to care about filling the human 'heart' with compassion. ... Dalai Lama

This man has an insight that not many men possess. I believe it is because he lives a spiritual life, albeit one of a Buddhist.

Our very own Prophet at this time, Thomas S. Monson, has said words similiar to these, although I know he would also say that it is of great importance on filling the brain with knowledge along with filling the human heart with compassion. They seem to go hand in hand because without knowledge, we wouldn't know what true compassion is and without true compassion, we wouldn't have the knowledge we need to feel sympathy and empathy, the sisters to compassion.

My athiest friend would say that we don't need a spiritual or religious person to tell us how to be compassionate or that we need to have knowledge or that we need both. He'd have us believe it is something that we are born with therefore we already know compassion. To a point I can believe this, that God instilled in each of us the knowledge to feel compassion when the time comes. However, we have all heard about those on this earth that have zero compassion because of the knowledge that they possess is one of intolerance and hate. To gain knowledge in a righteous way and to put that knowledge to good use, as in showing and giving compassion is a learned process in our growing-up environment. Yet, I've seen animals of all types show love and compassion and extreme loyalty, did they learn this on their own? I don't believe so, I believe that it is passed down from generation to generation as it is in humans.

How can we ever forget the bird that was struck by a car and its mate remaining by it's side until it passed away, how that little bird kept nudging his dead mate, urging it to get up and fly, then it sat down beside his mate and covered it with its wing. There was deep sorrow and compassion. The same with the dog's on the freeway video how one was trying to rescue the injured dog and in the process was hit by a car as well. I thank heaven that they both survived and were well taken care of.....by someone who possessed compassion for animals.

Knowledge is celestial, compassion is celestial, love is celestial and it is to be kept in the forefront of our lives until we leave this mortality....the Glory of God is intelligence and we do not live without a compassionate God who loves us. Why should we be any less to our fellow beings?