"It is not possible to have sympathy for the sufferingof others without knowing suffering oneself. The person who has experienced constant happiness and radiant, blissful health throughout life is unable to relate to the suffering of sickness
experienced by someone else. When you understand the suffering of others and wish to remove their suffering you have compassion.
The great Bodhisattva, Asanga ,meditated in retreat in a cave for many, many years while aspiring to gain a vision of Maitreya Buddha. He meditated continuously for three years, but was not successful in gaining realisations and was unable to perceive Maitreya. Discouraged, he left his cave but on the way down the mountain he noticed some birds entering and leaving their nest. He saw that their wings brushed over rocks
as they flew in and out and that the constant brushing of feathers had actually smoothed down the rocks over a long period of time. He thought, 'If soft feathers can wear away rock by constant brushing, I can remove the obstacles to realisations by constant energetic perseverance in my meditation practice.' Inspired, Asanga returned to his cave
and enthusiastically practised meditation for a further three years. However, due to his karmic obstructions, Asanga was still unable to gain realisations and had not a glimpse of the Buddha,Maitreya. He again decided to leave his retreat, but as he left the cave he noticed a spring where drops of water had gradually worn away a large rock. Again he thought that if tiny drops of water could wear down rock by constant dripping over time, then surely if he kept working at his meditation he could wear down his mind's stubborn resistance to gaining realisations.
Once more he went into retreat for yet another three years, but to no avail. Thoroughly disenchanted this time, he left the cave Once more, but encountered a man who filed down large pieces of iron to produce fine needles for his living. Thinking that if someone was prepared to take on such a laborious task just
to earn a little money, then surely he could exert himself for the great goal of enlightenment, Asanga went back to his cave once more. Another three years, however, gave no result. After a total of twelve years in the cave, Asanga had still not had
even a dream of Maitreya Buddha, much less a clear vision. This time he left for good in complete disgust.
On leaving the cave Asanga saw a very sick dog suffering from maggots eating its flesh. The dog was still alive, but crying pitifully from the pain. Asanga felt strong love arise for the mangy animal and compassionately he wanted badly to help remove its suffering. But Asanga could see that removing
the insects would kill them, and so he cut off a piece of his own flesh for them to live on. He then realised that even pulling them off with his fingers would cause harm, so he decided to lick them off gently with his tongue. As he knelt down to put his tongue into the festering, maggot-ridden, raw flesh of the poor dog, the animal suddenly appeared as Maitreya Buddha. Surprised, and then a little upset, Asanga demanded to know where Maitreya had been all the time that he was trying so hard to see him while in retreat. Maitreya replied he had been in Asanga's cave for the entire twelve years. He pointed to where Asanga had, unknowingly, spat on his robe.
Maitreya explained that Asanga's heavy negative karma
had prevented him from seeing him. However, the single
act of powerful and genuine great compassion had purified
all his negative karma and the obscuration of his delusions.
This had brought Asanga instant high realisations enabling
him to perceive all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.
Like Asanga, any Bodhisattva with great compassion is the object of offering, prostration and respect because he is the servant of all that live. If you were to ask, 'What is the essence of Lord Buddha's teachings?', the answer must be compassion and great compassion, because they are the foundation of all living beings' happiness and the basis of enlightenment. All Buddhas have gained their attainments through great compassion, and have then taught the Dharma.
( Selected Excerpt P 552 "Path To Enlightenment" by Geshe Acharya Thubten Loden, Tushita Publications, melb Aust '94.)
