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(Half bell)

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(Bell)

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I am very protecttive of the people [br]I am close to, like family and friends.

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And I know that I must be compassionate[br]to all people,

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but I have a harder time forgiving [br]somebody that is harmful to one of them,

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instead of to me or to myself.

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I am not sure whether you have any[br]recommendations on how to deal with that.

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Dear Thay, dear Sangha,

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our friend, Chad, he feels very protective[br]towards those he loves,

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his family and his friends.

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And when someone else done something [br]that harms his family or his friends,

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he has a hard time practicing compassion, [br]feeling compassionate towards that person.

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He would like some guidance

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on how he could be more compassionate[br]in those situations.

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In fact, compassion is a kind [br]of protection

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and the most effective protection[br]that you have.

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If you don't have compassion, [br]you allow fear, anger to express,

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and that will draw attention to you and[br]makes them afraid of you

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and they will attack you [br]because they are also afraid.

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That is why, with compassion,[br]with understanding,

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because understanding is possible.

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But when you look at the aggressive [br]people, you see that they suffer.

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They have violence in them, [br]they have anger in them.

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They don't have much joy and compassion,

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that is why, they suffer.

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And when they suffer, they make [br]other people around them suffer too.

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And when we have time to look at them,[br]we will understand

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and naturally, compassion [br]will arise in us.

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We are not afraid of them anymore, [br]we do not hate them anymore.

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In fact, we want to do something or to say[br]something, to help them suffer less.

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And if you know how to generate [br]compassion and joy,

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we can find skillful means [br]in order to help them to do the same.

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And if they are joyful and compassionate,[br]they will become harmless.

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And that is the best way [br]to protect ourselves.

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So, generate compassion in our own self,

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and help to generate compassion[br]in another person,

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is the best way to protect ourselves,[br]to be in true security.

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(Half bell)

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(Bell)