Compassion
Finally, Mikao Usui’s fifth precept, Be compassionate towards yourself and others. Compassion is another old fashioned word. Dictionary.com gives us this definition:
com·pas·sion [kuhm-pash-uhn]
noun
1. a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.
The first part isn’t too hard, most of us feel compassion towards those less well off than ourselves. But what about those we perceive to be better off than ourselves, do we feel compassion for them when they fall on hard times?
Then there’s the second part – being compassionate towards ourselves! That means not beating ourselves up when we make a mistake, being kind to ourselves when we don’t manage to achieve what we thought we should.
Hmmm…. not quite so easy, is it!
Kindness…
This sunday’s quotation comes from the writings of Lao Tzu.
Kindness is one of those words which we often use but don’t often think about what it really means. Dictionary.com lists these as synonyms for kindness:
benignity, benevolence, humanity, generosity, charity, sympathy, compassion, tenderness, good turn.
We tend to think of Kindness in terms of helping other people in a tangible way – doing someone a good turn. We tend to forget that kindness, like all good charity, should begin at home. If we can’t be kind to ourselves, how can we hope to be kind to others.
Be Honest
Mikao Usui’s fourth precept, Be honest in your dealings with other people sounds quite simple. Most of us are honest in our dealing with others aren’t we?
It really depends on how you think about honesty. While not many of us would steal or lie or cheat intentionally, think about how many times we say nothing because we don’t want to hurt someone’s feelings or cause an argument. Think about the times when we agree to do something because we find it difficult to say no, or the times when we turn down an offer of help because we don’t like to be a bother to anyone.
Is that really being honest?
Be Humble
Be humble, the third of Mikao Usui’s Precepts, a very old fashioned word; and what does it really mean anyway? Dictionary.com gives this definition:
1. not proud or arrogant; modest: to be humble although successful.
2. having a feeling of insignificance, inferiority, subservience, etc.
3. low in rank, importance, status, quality, etc.; lowly: of humble origin; a humble home.
4. courteously respectful: In my humble opinion you are wrong.
5. low in height, level, etc.; small in size: a humble member of the galaxy.
Alright – so now we know what it means, but how do we go about being humble? What does it take to make a person humble?
Possibly one of the best ways to be humble is to be thankful for everything, even the things that are not very pleasant.
What do you think?
When Your Life…
This Sunday’s quotation is from Rabbi Harold Kushner.
As you go about your day today, take the time to look for the beauty and joy around you.
Notice the plants growing in unlikely places and smile as you consider their amazing survival ability. Stop and watch the wildlife of the area for a few moments – even cities have birds and insect life. Smile as you watch their total absorption in whatever they are doing. Smile at the people you meet in the street, and watch their faces change when they smile back. See how many other examples of beauty you notice as you look around you.
How does it make you feel?
Do Not Worry!
Do not worry, the second of Mikao Usui’s Precepts, is so much easier to say than to do! Many of us quite happily spend several hours a day worrying about the ‘what ifs’ in our lives only to discover a little later that most of what we worried about happening just didn’t happen. What causes worry? In almost every case – worry is caused by fear. Fear of failure, fear of lack, fear of authority …. the list is endless.
Susan Jeffers book Feel The Fear And Do It Anyway: How to Turn Your Fear and Indecision into Confidence and Action
Do Not Anger!
Do not anger – the first of Mikao Usui’s Precepts is probably one of the hardest precepts to keep.
Maybe you don’t ever get really angry or shout at people, but I bet you sometimes get annoyed over other people’s silly habits, or get irritated by other drivers on the road! Anger, annoyance, and irritation all create stress within you that does you far more harm than the people to whom it is directed.
It would do us all good to remember these words of Friedrich Nietzsche:
“You have your way.
I have my way.
As for the right way,
the correct way,
and the only way,
it does not exist.”
Holding…
This Sundays quotation is from the Buddha.
Anger is always portrayed as the bad guy, isn’t it. Of itself, anger is a healthy emotion. It allows us expression in the face of a perceived threat. The problems arise when, instead of expressing the emotions in an acceptable way, we allow them to fester within us like an unhealed wound. The sad thing is that, as the Buddha says, we hurt ourselves by bringing dis-ease to our bodies.
Just for Today!
What are you doing NOW this minute? What does it feel like? Are there any particular smells or tastes peculiar to what you are doing? This is what the first line of Mikao Usui’s five Precepts is all about – being mindful or aware.
Most of us travel through life on automatic pilot, blissfully unaware of our surroundings or the details of our actions. When was the last time you felt the bubbles as you washed dishes, or smelt the unmistakeable smell of a clean metal saucepan (we call it the ‘fresh metal smell’ in our house)? Did you stop the car to admire that sunset? Did you even notice it – or were you too busy talking to your friend beside you?
Take a moment right now to stop and look around you – I mean really look. Now listen. Now smell. Take a deep breath and allow yourself to be aware of all the things you have just noticed using your senses. Breathe deeply for a few more moments just being aware, noticing any changes.
This is called being mindful. You don’t actually need to stop what you are doing to be mindful, but you do need to focus exclusively on whatever it is you are doing at any given moment in time.
This book The Miracle Of Mindfulness: The Classic Guide to Meditation by the World’s Most Revered Master (Classic Edition)
5 Precepts
Mikao Usui gave his students 5 Precepts to follow which were his adaptation of an earlier set of precepts dating back to the 9th century. The full wording of these precepts is
The secret art of inviting happiness
The miraculous medicine of all diseases
Just for today,
Do not anger,
Do not worry
Be Humble
Be honest (in your dealings with other people)
Be compassionate towards yourself and others
In every morning and evening join your hands in prayer,
pray these words to your heart and chant these words with your mouth:
“Usui Reiki Treatment (for) Improvement of body and mind”
The Founder, Usui Mikao
These precepts were chanted daily by his students and were said to promote an equal amount of spiritual development as all the energy work they did.