When compassion is present, we do not overlook others’ pain. Rather, there is a sense of urgency to end that pain, as if a fire has just been lit underneath you. When you have such compassion, as soon as you see suffering, you wish to jump up and act to end it at once. You have no fear and no hesitation in taking on the suffering of other people, animals, and even the planet itself. This is what I would call the right kind of fearlessness. This is the fearlessness of true heroes.
17th Karmapa
from the book The Heart Is Noble: Changing the World from the Inside Out
translated by Ngodup Tsering Burkhar & Damchö Diana Finnegan
Read a random quote or see all quotes by the 17th Karmapa.
Further quotes from the book The Heart Is Noble:
- Look what he did
- Balanced Life
- Who are you
- Let the moon be the keeper of my love
- Distinguishing between wants and needs
- Breaking barriers
- Expanding our sense of ourselves
- Take joy in your sincere intentions
- We need space to grow and learn from our own mistakes
- Facing Impermanence Wisely
- Greed is a recipe for dissatisfaction
- The Wealth of Contentment
- True Wealth
- Social action
- Life in Balance
- The intention to work for others
- The kindness we receive from others
- Boxed limitless potential
- Nothing is intrinsically bad
- Protective Inner Wisdom