Cattāri Brahmavihārā

New York City has been hit by a classic winter storm that would probably bring any other city of comparable size to its knees but, in typical New York fashion, everyone has decided to brave the storm, trudge through the shin-deep snow and jam themselves into the infrequently passing trains like so many heads of cattle being sent to the slaughter. Why? And why I am no different?

Several times today I contemplated turning back and working from home (you’ll notice that nothing can prrevent us from working, from producing) but there were so many things to be done and I wanted to at least support my employees who had made it there. In one sense at least there is something noble to be said about my commitment despite the fact that fear and greed seem to be propelling me and everyone else around me to ridiculous feats of productivity.

And yet, isn’t this a cause for compassion? What could be a better reason for concern and forgiveness than seeing a person or millions of people spurred on by greed, fear an.d delusion? Perhaps the soil of my heart has grown softer with the practice of forgiveness or perhaps it would be obvious to anyone but where I have often seen reason to despair I can now at least see something to tend to, to care for and to try to understand. Where is the need for vitriol? What would the excuse to heap on more suffering?

May all of us compelled by the three poisons learn to free ourselves with goodwill, compassion, gratitude and equanimity.