Is Everyone Innocent? Challenging the Boundaries of Compassion

In today's episode of the Live Into Your Brilliance podcast, Al and Bilos explore a deeply sensitive and thought-provoking question: Is there an underlying innocence within every person, regardless of their actions? Building on ideas from a previous episode, they examine whether it's possible to see the humanity in those whose behaviours seem incomprehensible or even evil. They discuss how judgement and compassion shape our views of others, and what it takes to see beyond the surface of people's actions to their core.

Trigger Warning: In this episode, we touch upon some highly sensitive topics, including references to violence, trauma, and moral dilemmas. We approach these discussions with care, and we acknowledge the difficulty of these subjects. If any part of this episode feels uncomfortable, please know that it is never our intention to cause harm. We ask for your understanding as we navigate these important but challenging topics.

Key Takeaways:

• Is Everyone Innocent? Al and Bilos reflect on the idea that every human being may have an inherent innocence, regardless of their actions, and how recognizing that can shift our understanding of compassion and forgiveness.
• Judgement vs. Compassion: They explore the role of judgement and how quickly we tend to condemn others based on their actions. But what happens when we take a step back and approach those actions with compassion and curiosity?
• The Power of Forgiveness: How forgiveness is not about condoning harmful behaviour but about releasing the burden of judgement for our own well-being. Al and Bilos also discuss the importance of self-forgiveness as part of this journey.
• Innocence in the Everyday: Whether in the workplace, family, or community, they reflect on how this principle of seeing innocence can be applied in our daily lives, even in the smallest interactions.

This episode will leave you questioning the way you view human behaviour, and perhaps even offer a new perspective on compassion, both for others and for yourself.

https://plumvillage.org/articles/please-call-me-by-my-true-names-song-poem

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