"Mercy does not mean not being cruel or sparing people revenge or punishment; it means a plain and positive thing like the sun, which one has neither seen or not seen." -- G.K. Chesterton
G.K. Chesterton, a writer and social commentary in London during the late eighteen hundreds, was known as a devout Catholic, who often questioned the values of man. His witty and observant essays reflect a variety of beliefs though, and I often find myself highlighting many of his antidotes as common sense knowledge. When Chesterton discusses the premise of mercy in his essay "A Piece of Chalk" he is commenting on the magnitude of virtuous humanity. He reflects that being merciful, or compassionate, is not made of actions of superiority, but in an all encompassing frame of mind; one that is as intangible as the direct witnessing of the sun. We are aware of its prescence based on the sensation of heat, on the illumination of the day, and on the series of reactions it causes on and outside of our planet, but we only can be sure of the sun through a combination of alternative senses.... Seeing is not the only proof for believing, because to see the sun, is to see it once removed.
The idea of mercy and forgiveness is merely the acknowledgement of the sun. The power of compassion however, is the embodiment of the suns' presence in relation to us, and the gratitude that we share. The difference between mercy and compassion is a representation of our own false perceptions and desires and the attachments that we have to them. Mercy, is a word that I believe to be negative, it is an implication that one has a precedence over the other... towering... a point where the higher chooses to impart their virtue on the lesser soul. The meaning of such words as mercy and forgiveness have been exploited and misconstrued, like many natural aspects of humanity throughout time. Due to years of conditioning our species to feel superior, entitled, and self-loathing, people have grown far away from the authenticity of life, and have hidden behind facades and excuses of righteousness.
Many people use a myriad of excuses, masked as human nature, to eradicate the validity of compassion. "An eye for an eye" is often seen as a justification for afflictive actions and behavior based on the natural law of cause and effect. However, when observing nature, is the equal and opposite reaction based on revenge, anger, and hate? If the apple falls and hits the ground was it done with a sense of malice from the tree? So quickly do we hide behind virtue and justice as a means for retaliation to validate our own lack of self-worth. When a person creates an action that affects us, it is we who process that action as something reflective of our own worth. If someone disappoints you, says negative things about you, or takes advantage of your kindness, then immediately most move to anger...Why? We view these actions as something against us. It seems a testament to how worthless we are, undeserving of love, or deserving of such plight. To feel disrespect is to feel we are not worthy of respecting. But this is in our own perception. Entertained in our minds. Regardless of whether or not other parties involved have that opinion of you, do you have that opinion of yourself? Some sources of pain and suffering may be distributed by others, but the reaction to and effect of that action belongs to us. It is our choice to feel pain. Only knowing this and not acting as a vengeful person is half the point. As the story of our lives unfold, and we become more aware, not only of what we are, what we are made of, and why we perceive and feel the ways in which we do, we also realize, that to simply just be aware is only the beginning.
Chesterton, reinforces the idea that the idea of mercy is the result of our own manipulation tactics and attachments. It is an attachment to our ego and a method of false integrity. It makes us believe that we are more evolved, worthy, and better than the person who acts so immorally. Compassion on the other hand, is a natural sense of empathy for the counterpoints of us all; humanity and nature.
When you are unattached to ego, when you are able to understand and implement self-actualization, at any stage, you are able to constitute compassion. Issues no longer become a question of "This was done to me". Now our words become "This happened". From this point we must see what "happened" in all parts; view life multi-dimensionally. Real compassion is an absence of afflictive emotions. Real compassion is a state of existence. Some remain constantly in this state, and others must remind themselves to revisit, but the more time we spend in compassion, the more we become it. It is a reconditioning of our being.
For many, the refusal of compassion as life is affiliated with pride and ego. It is the perception that others actions were forced on us, and we will no longer be subject to victimization. Those who seek revenge and anger may feel empowered, but that empowerment only lasts for a short period of time, since the root cause has not been addressed: Self. We see those who do not seek revenge or feel anger as "wimps" or "push over’s". For some, submission may be a result of their own ego attachments, but I believe those who choose to overcome afflicting emotion and ego, generally find themselves subject less to negative situations. They have a clearer sense of intuition and happen among less precarious situations, because life is relative to their level of compassion and perception. The very refusal of compassion and authentic living is to live in subjection; it is the manifestation of existing as a sentient being.
It seems to me, that the most predominant reason for being aware and not integrating compassion is fear. As we evolve in ways of security, comfort, and technology, we become less in tune with our natural instincts and move away from change. We no longer can hear our own intuition. Intuition is clouded by poor conditioning that has gone on for so long we consider it to be natural. People often say "I could never do that, I am not that kinda person", but I believe we are all "that kinda person". We are all capable of letting go of attachment, of living in a state of peace, and of being compassionate. In my experiences, when you let go of the expectation, of the inflated idea of comfort, and put compassion and love into everything you do, then life picks you up.
Chesterton asserted that genuine mercy, and being a good person in every facet of life, is not a mundane and unreachable existence. In conjunction, I contend that because of false desires and distorted attachments to family, friends and self, which are based on our own self-depreciation, we prevent ourselves from living in a pure and compassionate manner. We prevent ourselves from experiencing peace. When someone has created an action that you see as disrespectful, remember that you are worthy of respect. When you contemplate forgiveness, remember that we are all made from equal parts, and so there is no merit to the sense of the word. When you are faced with anger, ask why you are so angry at yourself. Remember that people do not "earn" compassion and should not be categorized in levels of priority. We should be equally as compassionate to strangers as we would be to ourselves. This is a difficult concept for people to understand because of attachment to materialism, ego, and a sense of people as our property. Loyalty is a false sense of security and strength. We should not act "loyally" we should act compassionately.
Words like mercy and forgiveness are positive concepts that have rooted from negative perspectives. The concept of forgiveness and mercy was derived from a situation or experience that warranted those very feelings. Words like anger, betrayal, disloyalty, and hurt are considered actions created by others who place these afflictions on us. The only word that holds the key to authentic love is compassion. When we realize that we are all interconnected and made of the same substances and matter, it may be easier to let go. When we remove ourselves from the complex entanglements that we have spun; from false beliefs and a twisted sense of self, then we will be able to not only give compassion, but invite it in as well.
