A Practice of Compassion, Presence and Shared Humanity

After placing an order at a fast food restaurant takeout menu, Linda pulled up to the window. I was in the passenger seat. She handed over the money and moments later, when the bag of food was delivered she noticed a sandwich was missing. She waved to the cashier and he opened the window. “What!” he exclaimed. After hearing her comment he slammed the window shut and 20-seconds later opened it and threw the wrapped sandwich in her lap. He didn’t hand it to her. He threw it.

In recent years, we’ve noticed that some people in service positions appear to be unhappy with their jobs—or their lives—and are freely expressing it with attitude, because it appears to be on the rise in an already growing “climate” of anxiety and dissatisfaction. I’m writing to develop a more compassionate response to situations like this, beyond disappointment.

In the performance of our work (lives actually)—we deliver far more than a product or service. Through our attitudes, expressed in speech, body language and behaviors, we broadcast, validate and contribute to the collective consciousness that’s creating and sustaining the world we’re experiencing. Just as the planet’s climate is warming, so also is the emotional climate of our personal, social and cultural realities.

We experience it as friction, impatience and a shortening fuse. Anger flares more quickly. Dissatisfaction is expressed openly and discourse becomes more combustible. From a living systems perspective, when extremes are replacing moderation, effective management calls for “cooler heads”—a shift in perception—to reduce the temperature. We accomplish this through a purposeful and consistent shift in perception, looking beneath the appearance and behaviors of others to see the deeper (divine) life expressing itself—at times imperfectly—through them.

Practice

While the following suggested shifts in perception are drawn from Christian scripture, the wisdom they contain is also deeply rooted in Eastern spiritual traditions, including insights from contemporary psychology.

Pause: Before reacting, silently pause. Take a breath. Allow the judgments and stories to form and let them rest. “Judge not, that you be not judged.” — Jesus the Christ (Matthew 7:1).

Look Beneath the Role: See past the clothing, job title, mood, behavior and social status. Inwardly ask: Who is there—beneath the role? “You look at appearances, but God looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7).

Assume a Shared Inner Life: When someone makes a negative comment or displays bad behavior, use it as a reminder: This person knows fear, longing, joy and suffering—just as I do. “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mark 12:31).

See Through the Eyes of Compassion: Interpret difficult behavior as simply a momentary expression of unmet needs, desires or inner turmoil—rather than a flaw or moral failure. “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34).

Recognize the One Life Force: Develop a sense that the life force, awareness and divine presence (soul) that is yours, is the same as all others, just looking out through different eyes. “I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.” (John 14:20).

Rest in Presence: Realize, the other person doesn’t need to be fixed, corrected, educated or improved. “The Kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke 17:21).

Develop a Goodwill Mantra: Observing someone, whenever it feels right, say something inwardly. For instance, “May he be at peace with whatever his soul requires.” “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

Christ Perspective

These quotes, attributed to Jesus, prompt a deeper contemplation—and practice. To begin with, “Christ” is not Jesus’ last name. “His given name was Jesus. ‘Christ’ is his honorific title. So in the body of Jesus was born Christ consciousness, the Omniscient Intelligence of God, Omnipresent in every part and particle of creation. This consciousness is the perfect reflection in creation of the Absolute, Spirit of God, the Father.” — Paramahansa Yogananda (The Second Coming of Christ: The Resurrection of the Christ Within You. Vol. 1)

Christ consciousness then, is not believing something about Jesus. It’s seeing as Jesus saw—a perception rooted in shared being rather than separation. Throughout the Gospels, he looks past appearances and social roles, moral failure, politics and behavior, recognizing the divine life that’s present in the other. He responds not to the facade, but to the soul. So, the practice of Christ consciousness is seeing Christ in the other—especially where it’s least expected.

Personal

Each of us is an expression of a shared divine life. To see that spark—the soul—in another is not to ignore their point-of-view or behavior, but to remember what is deepest and most true in all of us—no exceptions. When we see another person as an obstacle, function or stereotype the shared field of life—the life force—contracts in us. Soul-seeing opens that field.

Social

The soul of a society is not shaped by abstract beliefs, ideologies or policies but by countless acts of perception made visible in speech and behavior—positive and negative. When people are seen as souls rather than objects, systems soften, work at all levels is respected, humane service is restored, conflicts de-escalate and meaning returns. Basically, to see the divine spark in another is to participate in the healing (wholeness) of the society. And by extension, the world.

At that same restaurant, months later, Linda wound the car window down to place an order at the menu board. The voice on the intercom said, “Hi sweetie! What can we make for you today?” “Make?” That was odd. We pulled around to the window and an elderly black woman opened it. The exchange of money for food occurred with a smile and a comment: “Hope you enjoy that! Have a nice afternoon. See you later.” That last comment was added after a few more trips, hoping she’d be at the window. We’d gotten to know and like each other. Like a breath of fresh air, we pulled out feeling there’s still hope for humanity.

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