“Dr. Chodak could easily pass unnoticed, until you meet his gaze—a gaze filled with the perception of one who has seen so much that he has seen everything, seeing beyond the suffering he has experienced, beyond all the evil and the abuses he has witnessed, yet expressing boundless compassion for his fellow human beings.”
In an article by Tricycle Magazine, Tibetan doctor named Tenzin Chodak offers tips for how to cultivate unconditional love towards others, an inclusiveness that incorporates all beings no matter who they are. Dr. Chodak, who had been a personal physician to the Dalai Lama, was imprisoned by the Chinese in 1959. He remained in prison for 21 years, 17 of which he was beaten and tortured daily—physically and psychologically—and his life was continually threatened. Below, he outlines four qualities which made possible not only his survival, but also the great triumph of his heart.
1. First, we must endeavor to see every situation in a larger context.
Like the Dalai Lama—who often speaks of how one’s enemy teaches one patience—Dr. Chodak saw his enemy as his spiritual teacher, who led him to the wisest and most compassionate place in himself.
2. Second, we must see our enemies, or the difficult people in our lives, as human beings like ourselves.
Dr. Chodak never forgot the commonality of the human condition. The Dalai Lama said, “Your enemies may disagree with you, may be harming you, but in another aspect, they are still human beings like you. They also have the right not to suffer and to find happiness. If your empathy can extend out like that, it is unbiased, genuine compassion.”
3. Third, we must let go of pride and feelings of self-importance.
These attitudes, which can arise so easily in times of conflict, become the seeds of even more difficulty. Dr. Chodak actually attributed his survival to the ability to let go of self-importance and self-righteousness.
4. Finally, we must embrace the understanding that hatred never ceases through hatred; it ceases only in response to love.
In situations of conflict, lovingkindness and compassion grow when we understand them to be the most beneficial motivation for responsive and effective action.
