Some practitioners think that they have to spend their whole lives meditating and doing special practices in order to produce or achieve enlightenment; and then when they are enlightened, they develop an awareness of compassion for others. I think this is completely backwards. My experience is that you become aware that you are enlightened in meditation, and then you get active and do things that benefit others. Enlightenment is something you become aware of; compassion is something you do.

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