We can talk about compassion until we drop dead, Pema Chödrön says, but at some point we have to actually do something, because seeing yourself clearly and seeing yourself clearly with compassion are two different things, and neither is easy. She describes maitri, compassion for oneself, as an unfamiliar middle ground: not condoning, not criticizing, not caught in right or wrong. On one side is righteous indignation, on the other is shame, and most of us fall off toward one or the other the moment someone praises us or blames us. She calls it spinning out. The practice is to hold your seat and stay with the felt sense of praise or blame in the body instead. Then she tells the story of complaining to her teacher, Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, that this clear seeing did not feel friendly at all. It felt more like yuck. When the mind finally calms down, she says, nobody warns you that you will be able to see everything that was lying at the bottom of the pool all along. That honesty is half of maitri. The kindness toward what you find there is the other half, and it is the beginning of discovering your own humanness, which turns out to be the thing you share with everyone else. Pema Chödrön is an American Buddhist nun, the author of When Things Fall Apart, and resident teacher at Gampo Abbey in Nova Scotia. Explore more from Pema Chödrön and hundreds of teachers at Sounds True One. Get your first month FREE at https://bit.ly/4ctecMn Subscribe to Sounds True's YouTube Channel ► https://bit.ly/SubscribeSTYT Sounds True is a mission-driven learning and media company, and a recognized leader in wellbeing, personal growth, and spiritual transformation. Partnering with the world’s foremost wisdom teachers and best-selling authors, the company reaches millions worldwide with its unique programs, digital learning experiences, and worldwide events. The company also features a variety of original series, weekly shows, and live online experiences on Sounds True One, its global platform and community with members across more than 125 countries. Sounds True is a Public Benefit Corporation and also the home of the Sounds True Foundation. Connect with us: ▪️Facebook: http://bit.ly/2XFIIeE ▪️Instagram: http://bit.ly/2UlEoiH ▪️Website: http://bit.ly/2tOl02d