“We can say “blue,” but until we see the color blue, we don’t really know what the meaning is. We can say that something is hot, but until we touch it, we don’t know what “hot” means. We can talk about bringing our mind to compassion by saying “May all sentient beings be free from suffering and the root of suffering,” but until we feel the pain of others, “pain” is only a word. We have to crack its shell to let its meaning infuse us, seep into our lives.”
