Awareness in Buddhist Meditation

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should not be a barrier of distinction, which is actually the barrier of
‘self’. And so, the object is not the person who suffers, but suffering
itself. And with that, ‘concentration’ becomes ‘contemplation’. And
again the question arises: What is suffering? What is hatred?
In true compassion one is moved to action, though not just emotionally,
for no other reason and with no other motive than the setting
right of what was fallen. It may be the mere removal of a stone
on the path, which may cause hurt to people walking in the dark; the
prevention of a child hurting itself in ignorance; the showing of the
right path to a traveller going astray. The result is immaterial, but
the deed must be done, and is done without forethought, without
plan, without thought beyond. Thus, there is no thought of regret,
no anticipation of reward, but the mere understanding of the need of
immediate action which comes spontaneously as long as one’s eyes
are not closed, as long as one’s mind is not preoccupied with greed.
This spontaneity is an essential characteristic of compassion. But,
for the mind to act spontaneously, that is, to act at all, instead of
merely reacting, it is to be free from conditioning in which the mind
can only respond without seeing, without understanding, without
love.
When the house is on fire there is only one thought: save what
can be saved. Books may be thrown out of the window or soaked
with water in an attempt at preventing them getting burnt to ash.
There is no time or further thought, for further motives or desires:
save what can be saved, without thought of method.
Well, we are on fire. ‘Everything is burning’, said the Buddha,
‘with the fires of lust, hate and delusion’. Can I see so much foolishness
and be unmoved? No one can save another one, if he does not
want to be saved. Even the teaching of the Buddha is impermanent
and must decline, and in the course of time disappear altogether,
but at least, let me not be the cause thereof, or even contribute
thereto by my selfish actions of lust and hate and foolishness. He,
who understands that he is a fool, is a fool no more; and that insight