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Is there a time to wash your hands of someone?

JohnCobbJohnCobb Hot Springs Arkansas Explorer

I understand the idea of oneness and how we are connected to everyone and everything and we are to have compassion towards all beings. However, is there ever a time when it is okay to say I cannot have you around me and cannot have anything to do with you?

Comments

  • BunksBunks Australia Veteran

    Yep, there is definitely a time to move on.

    As the saying goes “you can love the tiger, but from a distance”.

    We can still have compassion for people but never see them again if they are unhealthy for us.

    JohnCobbShoshin1lobsterNerida
  • JeroenJeroen Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter Netherlands Veteran

    Yes, sometimes we do have to. When other people are detrimental to our happiness, it is some times best to make an end to the relationship. I had a friend who would phone me up at strange times of day and night, and would spend hours on the phone crying and complaining. Her behaviour got so bad we in the end mutually agreed not to have contact anymore.

    BunksJohnCobb
  • AnneB77AnneB77 Alexander, AR, USA New

    When a person is consistently ignoring your boundaries, they don’t respect your feelings, they are focused on themselves. I love everyone as a fellow human being and I feel bad that some people might only have me to feel compassion for them but you have to protect your energy and your mental well-being and if they’re a threat to that then you have to distance yourself from them

    BunkslobsterJohnCobbpaska
  • yagryagr Veteran

    It appears the answer is unanimous. For context, I'm going to share more than the sentence in question (though it'll be italicized), but this came to mind from a recent letter I wrote. I should mention that the person I was writing to is Christian rather than Buddhist so I framed the sentiment in Christian symbolism.

    My lifelong search for my tribe has failed because I have been looking in the wrong teepees. I have been interpreting self through the lens of ego, burdened with the belief that I am less than I am, and thinking it is humility. True humility is knowing that although my worth is the same as all humanity, the gifts I bring to the family dinner are not. I have approached the world on my knees, not in humility, but as a beggar unaware that my alms bowl is made of the purest gold from Heaven’s forge.

    Or perhaps a different way of expressing the same thing: There are some parts of the Middle East in which water is the same price as oil - they still don't mix.

    JeroenJohnCobb
  • paskapaska Explorer

    This is very very bad karma for my sangha my teacher and myself but I am thinking of putting down my euthanasia. Ie murder. In tibetan Buddhism it is necessary to die naturally but here comes the kicker if I let them suffer I go to jail and get bad karma anyways. If pysch pills don’t work for my cat I am very tired of this behavior I have so much compassion but I will not be abused for what ever stressing her out that’s idiot compassion. She will not trap me in saving her life and my future. Healthy cats can be rehome day in a no kill shelter ect but her special diet special needs and now a behavioral problem is bad and won’t get rehomed. I don’t know what’s stressing her out but spending money on a psych problem at vet when I think it’s a uti ect and being very very low income is not cool or needed. I don’t want her to suffer I don’t wanna be abused. She’s peeing on me while I sleep. I don’t know if it’s ptsd as I rescued her as a kitten before I got the other cat she eat my clothes cloth and this is because of being weened to early. I have no choice but it’s gotta be done if nescarry . It’s life even lamas ie buddhist priest suffer emensly.

    BunksJohnCobb
  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator

    Also posted in @Kerome 's Compassion thread:

    BunksJohnCobb
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