Emptiness and Compassion

I keep reading stuff along the lines of Emptiness and Compassion are coexistent, inseparable, etc. In my experience I'm not seeing some fundamental association between emptiness and compassion. Could someone please explain this to me in pragmatic terms or describe a practice to see this more directly?

We need some definitions first and a few foundations.

Becoming: giving rise to a self due to delusion.
Emptiness: the true nature of phenomena, that is, without a self. We can also call it selflessness. It is the truth revealed when one abides in the right way.
Compassion: behavior/nature that results from selflessness. Since there is no self whatsoever, phenomena can move/abide freely, as needed. If something gets "stuck" due to becoming, tension will rise and suffering will be experienced automatically.

When awareness realizes its suffering, it can continue suffering until it wants to rid itself from it. The only way to do this is by not becoming.

When awareness stops becoming, that would be the first compassionate act towards itself because it will reduce suffering. It is at the same time emptying itself. If it stops becoming, empty openness rises. Awareness verifies that this empty openness is the way to end all its suffering.

So then awareness feels the urge to lead others into emptiness and it starts its crusade. This leads to suffering because awareness becomes a new self: the "compassionate self". Even others suffer because the "compassionate self" is pushy, stubborn, desperate to empty everybody.

So again, awareness suffers and empties itself from this "compassionate self" to end its suffering. At the same time, other beings sense the end of the stubborn "compassionate being" and their suffering ends too. Other beings are benefited from this emptying and, in a very general sense, that's why it is said that compassion is coexistent with emptiness.

My bodhicitta practice: I realize I am impermanent, empty, and hence, that I cannot end my own or other people's suffering, so I stop becoming step by step (using the gears). Then, by not becoming, this body and mind (among many other things) ceases to be an obstacle for others.

So then I try to act with that selfless view, at first it is very hard but then I gain momentum. This means, speaking without becoming, working without becoming, listening without becoming, answering without becoming.

By not becoming, this mind and body's actions are free of pushiness, free of neediness, free of greediness, free of disconnectedness.

You have to reach emptiness through any of the techniques: MM, 3rd gear, Nick's actualizing the jhanas (this is my favorite at this moment). Then, when you're internally empty, you need to empty yourself externally too: let others be imperfect, let every mistake happen, let them be free even if this means that they will experience suffering. In the end, their suffering will help them look for an end of suffering. So to empty yourself externally means to respect external phenomena. I visualize beings, specially not so friendly beings. I realize their 3 characteristics.

Edited for clarity

This is freaking awesome. Very clear. Thank you.

I believe I am in the phase of the transition from self to an arising compassionate self alternately a compassionate witness. It feels like this is part of the process that simply *must* occur so that this mind can gain the full experience of the various aspects of compassion, making many mistakes along the way.

As the old narrative self becomes thin and practice motivation is no longer the old "selfish" motivation it seems logical that the next motivation is the "compassionate selfish" motivation. Is there another source of motivation that can be tapped into other than "compassionate selfish" or is this simply part of the process that must be moved through?

Could be, but not necessarily. It will probably rise but don't look for it. It doesnt matter if it rises. Better to aim for absolute bodhicitta (complete selfless compassion, at this point Justin is way gone). Don't worry if absolute bodhicitta is feasible or not. Reaching the goal is not important, striving for it is the important part.

How do you strive for absolute bodhicitta? Through complete awake surrender. Once you get to emptiness, recognize that you now have become emptiness and then surrender again. You will create a self out of emptiness, its ok, like you say its part of the process. Surrender, and while you're at it, effortlessly surrender to beings. If no being is present, visualize them, good beings, loved ones, lousy ones, hated ones, all of them, and surrender fully. This will help you cultivate Dana Paramita (Perfection of generosity).

As you visualize or actually encounter non-desirable beings or circumstances, let your anger rise, endure and cease. Let selfish desire rise, endure and cease. Let anything identified as self rise, endure and cease. After emptying yourself from the previous poisons, do whatever you need to do to advance, progress, improve your life and other people's lives. This is how you cultivate Sila Paramita, the perfection of virtuous action.

Then you surrender your omnipotence over people: Let "your desire to control uncontrollable people" rise, endure and cease. Let "your desire to stop them from doing inevitable harmful things" rise, endure and cease. Let "your desire to lure desirable people" rise, endure and cease. This will help you cultivate Ksanti Paramita (perfection of patience).

Let laziness rise, endure and cease. Let workaholism rise, endure ande cease. Let urgency rise, endure and cease. Let absentmindedness rise, endure, cease. Carry on with projects in a selfless way. This is the cultivation of Virya Paramita.

5th and 6th Paramita have to do with Concentration and Wisdom (2 of the Three Trainings). I'm still working on those so once I have more practice I'll report back to you man. I hope this helps!

- Alejandro