Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 16 Iyar, 5785
31st Day of the Omer

Today we focus on the “Compassion of Humility” – the idea that humility must contain within it compassion.  One of the biggest areas is the compassion within.  “False humility” – one where we sacrifice compassion for ourselves for the sake of this external idea of humility is NOT what we are talking about when it comes to our soul.

Our soul asks us to be compassionate within.  To move beyond our ego – that need for external validation – to the place where we understand our “place.”  Humility has compassion for the soul living inside our “meat sacks” and AT THE SAME TIME sees the other “meat sacks” on this earth containing the soul of us as well. It is the idea of the “one soul” – there is no real difference between you and me.  The only thing that separates us? We arrive at the moment our consciousness connects having different paths and experiences – and – leading us to the EXACT same moment together.

It is understanding all of the microdecisions that us to the moment, and being in awe that we made the choice to connect in such a way.

This is the compassion of humility.

What are your thoughts?

Here are my thoughts from last year:

Good morning! Today is the 31^st Day of the Omer, and the theme is the Compassion of Humility

From Chabad:

Examine if your humility is compassionate. Does my humility cause me to be self-contained and anti-social or does it express itself in empathy for others. Is my humility balanced and beautiful? Or is it awkward?

Just as humility brings compassion, compassion can lead one to humility. If you lack humility, try acting compassionately, which can help bring you humility.

Exercise for the day: Express a humble feeling in an act of compassion.

It is an interesting contemplation – humility feels really connected to compassion. How can we separate those out?

The line – “if you lack humility, try acting compassionately, which can help bring you humility.” I also wonder if you lack compassion, try being humble, which can help bring compassion.

This idea of humility has to do with value. It has to do with dignity. The definition is – “the state or quality of being worthy of honor or respect.”

Humility is NOT seeing ourselves as “less than” others – that would lack internal compassion for ourselves. We would lose our dignity. Humility is seeing ourselves worthy of honor or respect AND seeing others with that same honor and respect. This is true humility with compassion.