Big Evil's blog: "Ravings of a madman"

After watching the events surrounding Hurricane Katrina, I made a resolution that following New Years that I would commit at least one compassionate act a day. I have kept that resolution and in the past year I have noticed something rather amazing. My awareness has increased.

A funny thing, this awareness. From reading various books on spirituality and transpersonal psychology, it seemed that awareness was some great mystical art. I wondered if I would ever achieve any level of awareness. It seemed to be the bailiwick of yogis and Tibetan monks, something the average person would most likely not achieve.

My surprise was great upon discovering just how easy it is. Compassionate and kind acts do not have to be magnanimous. The Bible says "Do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing." Compassionate acts can be something as simple as holding an elevator door when you see someone approaching, or letting someone turn off a side street in front of you during heavy rush hour traffic. What are these few extra seconds in a lifetime of years. In just a year, such acts are now second nature. But in order to do such acts, you must be aware. Incredibly enough, in order to be aware, you must do such acts as well.

Awareness is not some great enlightenment unto itself, but a simple mode of being. In order to let someone cut in front of me during rush hour, I had to see the waiting vehicle on the side street. I had to be aware of the opportunity to do something kind. As this has become a new modality of right action, I see much more, and experience much more, of the world around me. I am more aware. I notice simple things such as birds in the trees, the sparkling wonder of the stars, the vivid colors of a sunset. Once you start, it is like a creek, that widens into a stream, that widens into a river, eventually emptying into the ocean of the universe. All it took was the deliberate act of looking for an opportunity to show kindness and compassion.

So look for the vehicle trapped on a side street. Look for the person running towards the elevator. Look for the person trying to get their cart past yours in the supermarket aisle. Smile, commit your act, and awareness will follow. Awareness, it's easier than you think.