Iole Lebensztajn writes: “Ethics and Compassion” in The Main Central Jin Shin Jyutsu Newsletter, issue Number 73, Summer 2011:

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“I can do no other than be reverent  before everything that is called life. I can do no other than to have compassion for all that is called life. That is the beginning and the foundation of all ethics.”  Albert Schweitzer, German Theologian ~ 1952 Nobel Peace Prize

continued…

2nd Depth in disharmony shows possessiveness, greediness. I am never happy with what I have, I always want more. However, nothing in the physical realm is everlasting. It can be broken, lost, stolen, destroyed, etc. This can be the cause of a lot of suffering, conflict and dissatisfaction. I become a hard person (as is the texture of 2nd Depth), and I do not reverberate to what is around me. I am unable to empathize, which is a very important ingredient for compassion and ethics. 2nd Depth in harmony shows generosity and all kinds of voluntary help, oftentimes anonymously.

3rd Depth: anger blinds us to the point of view, feelings and rights of others. When I am angry I can only see my rights and the others’ “wrongs”. Anger tends towards rage, revenge and spite, which can cause destruction, fragmentation, exclusion and harm to others. 3rd Depth in harmony will help me be considerate of another’s perspective and diversity, be flexible, forgiving, tolerant and patient ~ all synonyms of compassionate. All these qualities will help me seek and find nonviolent solutions to conflicts. This approach to life can activate integration, inclusiveness and a sense of respect and responsibility for applying the non-harming principle. Ethical conduct is not only following a set of rules or precepts which establishes what is right or wrong, but is always aiming at the welfare of all.

4th Depth in disharmony expresses fear, the fear of not surviving. As we study in Jin Shin Jyutsu, fear is at the core of all attitudes, and I think at the core of all unethical conduct. I believe that most unethical behavior is caused by the False Evidence Appearing Real ~ that the more I take from everyone, including money, power, status, sex, information, influence, attention, etc., the safer and happier I will be. (My survival is guaranteed.) But it is quite the opposite; the more I take, misappropriating from others, the more I will lose. And then I think I need to take more from others, and so a vicious circle is born.  On the other hand, when 4th Depth is in harmony, I will “bridge” myself to the Source and I will realize that I already have all the resources I need, not only to survive, but to take delight in myself, in life. Instead of taking from others, I am able to share with others the gifts I bring in my backpack.

5th Depth: when I try to be something I am not, when I pretend to be one thing and my actions reveal something else, there is an incoherence that can cause confusion and mistrust. As mentioned before, ethics is related to fairness and honesty when my actions are in fact what they appear to be. 5th Depth in harmony helps me commit myself to authenticity and truthfulness, helping reduce the level of misunderstanding, doubt and fear in my relationships. Inner peace and serenity brought by the wisdom of the 5th Depth in balance will also improve my ability to understand and accept myself and others, thus reducing conflicts and confusion inside and around me.

I could go on and on in this topic as it unfolds into a myriad of perspectives and insights about how we act and react in our daily lives. “Do unto others”…not just words, not just a good idea, but a Golden Rule of conduct and self-observation. “Walk a mile in their shoes.” Perhaps these are the foundations of compassion, the principle of Jin. And then ethics will follow suit. Quite a challenge, isn’t IT.

Thank you, Iole.

Thank you, Mary.

Thank you, David.

Gassho, Namaste, Blessings

All issues of The Main Central Jin Shin Jyutsu Newsletter are available at http://www.jsjinc.net.