seriously now, seems to be two themes here ?
first - lifestyles of others and how their choice of lifestyle is limiting their growth, spiritually speaking ? their lifestyle too worldly and not compatible with spiritual lifestyle ?
second - your feelings of being second place to others, because of lifestyles they have chosen -whether secret or not, it is your feeling left out that is the focus ?
correct any misconceptions, misunderstanding on my part, of what you have posted
i think we are trying to understand what the word compassion means. Not what my feelings are or if someone has choosen a life style that is incompatible with spiritual growth. i think we will find that people have quite a different view of this word compassion. For instance let us take Into Blue's version:I will send Little Hoot a beautiful condolences card, expressing my deepest sympathy, love and best wishes ! I am sure she will understand.
and as for the Midnite Astrologer, have you no compassion for me and my wishes ?
Now let us look at Blue Nova's response to the word:mmmmmmmmmmm....compassion..i love compassion....
compassion....soul is companion....yes
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ooh boy...compassion and forgivenes....oh JOY !!
i love..to give both of these...oh boy and oh joy !!!!! oh boy....that brings Rocket-ship to launch pad...
ready for lift-off.....crab,,,outta shell,,and ready...
whooohooo...maybe,,this life...aint outta reach !!
?Love and (((((Hugs))))))
Lastly, let me include Namaste2All's version in the sense that he is speaking about Divine Mother who is an embodiment of compassion."When the Golden Lotus Temple went, I at first thought it was a terrible catastrophe; but it turned out otherwise, because it made me go on to found other temples and ashram centers."
"Gloom is but the shade of Divine Mother's hand outstretched caressingly. Don't forget that. Sometimes, when the Mother is going to caress you, a shadow is caused by Her hand before it touches you. So when trouble comes, don't think that She is punishing you; Her hand overshadowing you holds some blessing as it reaches out to bring you nearer to Her."
-- Paramahansa Yogananda
from book "Journey to Self-Realization" -- "Preparing for Your Next Incarnation" SRF San Diego Temple, June 11, 1944.
There is a certain theme that runs through these posts and they are in some way describing: i looked up the word compassion and found this definition:
a deep awareness of and sympathy for another's suffering
the humane quality of understanding the suffering of others and wanting to do something about it
So you see i think there is only one theme that is compassion. However we as humans all have our own views on the subject. How can we have compassion for the views of others unless we try to understand them? In this sense i was opening up so that others might understand me. Yet the views of others are just as important and so i am trying to understand their views.
Steve