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Comment by Leila Raven on February 25, 2011 at 5:16pm

For instance I may love someone who is an alcoholic and is abusive when they drink, they may decide that they do not want to stop drinking, no matter what. I can love and accept them, but not accept the behavior, and refuse contact with that person whenever they are drinking, or even refuse contact entirely 'boycott' as a form of social pressure. I can still accept that it is their choice, their life, and have love and care for them. Perhaps I find out they have started driving when drinking, I may even opt to call authorities to arrest them in accordance to my values around concerns for someone getting hurt.

I had written a bit more, but It seems it limits the comment lengths... (going to have to see if I can change that).  I think I pretty much covered most of what I was trying to get across anyways.

We can absolutely have compassion and acceptance of people and that they are going to be who they are, think what they think, feel what they feel, and make the choices they make, no matter how much we or anyone else may wish otherwise. Accept what we cannot change, from a grounded, centered, compassionate place. Yet still act on our own ethics and beliefs toward managing actions we perceive in the world as damaging.

Comment by Leila Raven on February 25, 2011 at 5:09pm

There are always situations where one may choose a path that someone perceives as 'harmful' in some way. Usually when it violates the consent of others. Most people who are not on that path, would likely view it as something 'negative'. We're allowed to have judgements on things and we're allowed to disagree with peoples paths, in fact, with the diversity in the world and in nature, it's inevitable.

The reality is, the spectrum of what exists is what exists. Dealing with what exists from a place of spiritual strength, a place devoid of irrational fears and hates, a place that comes from compassion and love, is going to be the most enlightened stance.

There will be those who believe in engaging in things most would consider atrocities. However fearing them, hating them, or seeking vengeance serves no purpose. We have the most chance of improving any situation if coming from a place of calm centered compassion. If our own spiritual and moral paths indicate that we should do what we can to prevent others from harming others, then yes, we have a personal and ethical responsibility to act on that. That is not judgment coming from a place of fear or hate, that is a compassionate response to a conflicting situation.

You can have unconditional acceptance of people, without accepting all their beliefs or behaviors.