Fierce Compassion
Compassion that says 'no' to protect - strong boundaries with love.
Sometimes compassion is fierce. A parent pulls a child from danger. A teacher gives tough feedback. Compassion isn't always soft; it's wise responsiveness to suffering. Fierce compassion protects with strength born from love.
Written about in
- What Zen says about anger
Zen does not require softness here. Compassion can refuse firmly, the way a parent pulling a child out of the road is not being gentle.