~
Just as a bird needs two wings to fly,
we also benefit from using two wings
the wings of “wisdom” and “compassion”
~
The wing of “wisdom”… the perspectives and deep insights about the nature of life, the universe, people and their interactions.
The wing of “compassion”… a sense of connection, love, kindness, acceptance and the heartfelt wish for all others to be free from unhappiness or suffering…the understanding that we all long for those positive qualities and are unhappy when we can’t, or don’t, get them.
~
Wisdom, without compassion, might be aloof or dispassionate.
Compassion, without wisdom, might be overwhelming.
Together they enhance and balance each other.
The two wings of wisdom and compassion
~
~
Part of both wisdom and compassion
is the deep, heartfelt understanding that all people share a common bond….
that we all do long for common positive qualities….
to feel happy and contented
to feel healthy and strong
to feel safe and protected
to live with a sense of ease
And just as we all wish for those….so does every person on earth…
~
Sometimes, when people have done things that I can’t understand or comprehend
something I don’t like or wish they hadn’t done
I try to keep in mind….
this person wishes for the same positive qualities that I wish for…
happiness, contentment,
feeling loved, accepted and appreciated
Not wanting to feel afraid, inadequate or rejected
Not wanting to feel sick, lonely or depressed
Wishing to feel happy and contented…
~
When people don’t feel those positive qualities
coming from others and within themselves
they might choose inappropriate and hurtful strategies
to express…
potential resistance
perhaps objections
sometimes escalating to retaliation
or possibly even…
dismay
~
But…
at one previous point…
this person DID wish for the same things that I continue to wish for
or this person DID NOT want to feel the same ways that I don’t want to feel
perhaps not obvious in this present moment
but it WAS there in the past
…just like myself…
~
At a previous time,
this person wished for the positives
this person did not want the negatives
but then things changed
the person was hurting and lashed out
~
And so…as we go through our days
may we all do our best
…living, reacting, interacting, choosing…
…observing…watching…reading…listening..
…thinking…feeling….talking…doing…
to do as much as we can
to understand ourselves and others
to live with,
and to fly on,
our own two wings
of wisdom and compassion
~
~
~
Related posts
April, 2011 post: “Loving kindness” (pretty ferns background)
August, 2011 Another “loving kindness” post (ferns background)
April, 2012 post: “Loving kindness” phrases, sunset/sky background
January, 2012 “On the wings of wisdom and compassion” white bird with pretty blue sky background
October, 2011 “Balancing Compassion” avoiding compassion burnout
Pocket Perspectives 
Beautifully done!
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thank you, Janet…it’s another way of looking at interactions with and among others….one that sometimes helps me get a wider perspective…
I’m actually drained after making the pages and post… maybe because it’s so sad when others take negative actions…probably so.
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beautiful wisdom you’ve shared here. Every day, we can each take a step towards looking at ourselves, our world, and others, in this way.
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thank you, Joss… I find that, for me, this perspective is easier to keep in mind in low key interactions and conflict than in “the heat of the moment”…both at home and out in the world….but…practice, practice, practice…. ahhhh, so many opportunities to “practice….”
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Kathy, I felt as I read your words that this came from a deep place in your heart. I love the analogy of wisdom and compassion being like the wings of a bird. I guess we all have had the emotionally uncomfortable experiences of someone lashing out; they may be struggling with their own world and are not perceiving from a place of love.
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I really like the idea of balancing wisdom and compassion…I find it helpful. And I do find that using that perspective of realizing that no one wants to be struggling to be helpful when I’m actually with or around people who might be lashing out…or when I’m listening to the news…both of which I try to avoid, as much as possible.
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A wonderful, heart-filled message, Kathy. Thank you. 🙂
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you’re very welcome…I find that accessing this perspective can be helpful. When I think about how much I want some of those, and don’t want some of them.. it helps me keep in touch with that bond of common humanity…I guess that’s part of compassion.
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