Question asked by Olive
Hi there, I was wondering what you think about compassion fatigue? The reason I ask is because I'm doing a lot of service work (as we call it in my recovery fellowship) where I'm spending a lot of time helping people in crisis due to drug addiction and related issues like domestic violence. Sometimes I feel completely spent, like I have nothing left, and since it's unpaid I'm not getting anything material in return so I can't push through as one would a job. Do you think compassion fatigue can affect dharma practitioners, and if so, what can we do about it?
Thanks in advance
Olive
Hello Olive,
Thank you for your question. Compassion fatigue is a very real condition that happens to those working to help others in secular environments, especially in tough areas such as drug addiction, domestic violence, etc.
If I may, I would suggest that you make a regular practice of breathing meditation. You can watch guided meditations by clicking on this link: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/inspiration-worthy-words/live-your-best-life-100-days-of-mindful-meditation.html These sessions were on mindful meditation and were led by one of His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche’s senior students. It will be a great help to you in your work if you make time everyday, even for just 5-10 minutes to practice this meditation. It will give you not only a sense of relief but focus as well.
From a Dharma perspective, our actions to help others should not just be based on helping them in this life but all future lives. You can read, study and practice the teachings on the Lamrim (available here: https://www.vajrasecrets.com/lamrim-liberation-in-the-palm-of-your-hand).
The Lamrim teachings are set out in such a manner to help guide Dharma practitioners in all areas of life. It starts of with the most foundational teachings, and progresses, until finally towards the end it details the development of bodhicitta, through various meditational practices based on earlier topics.
Bodhicitta is the motivation to attain enlightenment not for yourself but to help all sentient beings. It is this motivation that drives practitioners on the bodhisattva path. The stronger this bodhicitta motivation is, the more we work for the benefit of sentient beings. This motivation is more than just a wish however, through the contemplative and meditational techniques you literally change how you think. When this happens you can work tirelessly for others, without succumbing to compassion fatigue. I hope this helps.