Overflowing Compassion

The wide pond expands as a mirror,

The heavenly light and cloud shadows play upon it.

How does such clarity occur?

It is because it contains the living stream from the

Fountain.

–Chu Hsi

(Creativity and Taoism: A Study of Chinese Philosophy, Art and Poetry by Chuan-Yuan Chang, p.209)

The Tao can be symbolized as a fountain of overflowing compassion. The line “It is because it contains the living stream from the Fountain [of Overflowing Compassion]” reminds me of the following Bible verse:

For the Lamb in the midst of the

throne will be their shepherd,

and he will guide them to springs

of living water;

and God will wipe away every tear

from their eyes (Rev.7: 17).

Mercy

“[From the] springs of living water [overflowing compassion] . . . God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” God demonstrates overflowing compassion. For God to wipe away “every tear,” He displays overwhelming mercy.

Don’t Club Yourself

So what does overflowing compassion have to do with your writing? A variety of things. Firstly, you need to show your inner writer more compassion. Don’t club your inner writer or yourself if your writing doesn’t meet your expectations. Living water won’t flow through either yourself or your writing if you beat yourself up.

Flow like the Fountain

Secondly, you need to model God and the Tao’s fountain by letting overflowing compassion move through your writing. What audience is your writing filled with overflowing compassion supposed to reach? Be like the fountain and let words of compassion flow off your pen reaching those who need to hear them.

More than Enough Love

Thirdly, be kind to yourself and other as you live your daily life. After all, you won’t run out of kindness. The fountain within your heart overflows with compassion. There is more than enough for everyone you meet . . . including strangers.

Clarity

In the poem, “The wide pond expands as a mirror.” If you expand your heart to mirror the compassionate Tao, then you will gain “clarity” . . . discernment. You will be able to see clearly both good and evil (“the heavenly light and cloud shadows”) and survive your insights with a compassionate heart.

Photo Credit: Photo by David Shane at Flickr Creative Commons.

Linked with Thought-Provoking Thursday.