Casual Buddhism

Can we feel compassion for those who seem undeserving? Recently, I had the opportunity to be a guest on Cindy Rasicot’s Casual Buddhism with Venerable Dhammananda, Thailand’s first fully ordained Theravada nun. My question involved my struggle with maintaining compassion when confronted with those who, in my mind, lack compassion. Part of Dhammananda’s answer was a bit difficult to comprehend as it involved rape and having compassion for the perpetrator—something I believe that Christ and the Buddha would say as well, but a struggle to grasp today as women finally feel supported to speak their truth.

At the end of the session, Cindy and I discussed it further, and she included a part of our discussion at the end. Take a moment to listen, and please share your thoughts below.

Also, if you have a question or topic to discuss with Dhammananda and would like to be a guest on Casual Buddhism, contact Cindy Rasicot. She is open to new ideas and all are welcome. I encourage you to browse through previous discussions. One with Jack Kornfield and Trudy Goodman was particularly fascinating.

Side note: Somehow we have to embrace both—compassion and passionate right action. Christ did both. The Dalai Lama and Thich Nhat Hahn did as well. A lifelong challenge!