Articles · 2026
Compassion can include a boundary
Ti-Ratana Dhamma
Goodwill does not require saying yes to every request. A person can sincerely wish another well and still decline an unreasonable demand, report harmful conduct or leave a situation that is unsafe. The question is whether a boundary protects conditions for well-being, or becomes a way to punish and humiliate.
Edition details
Sources & credits
Editorial commentary is distinguished from credited source readings. Source wording, references and paragraph identifiers are retained. Independent scholarly or Sangha review has not been completed.
New editorial commentary prepared for Ti-Ratana Buddhist Society. Academic sources are cited and selectively paraphrased; no ownership of those sources is claimed. Complete primary readings are linked, with their own licences.
- Source readings: Named source authors and translators: New editorial commentary prepared for Ti-Ratana Buddhist Society. Academic sources are cited and selectively paraphrased; no ownership of those sources is claimed. Complete primary readings are linked, with their own licences.
- New editorial text: Ti-Ratana Buddhist Society editorial project: Editorial material published with authorisation from Rain Lee Lin Jun. Independent scholarly or Sangha review has not been completed.
Related reading
A Life Held in Care: Buddhist Rites from Birth to Remembrance
The Open Door: The Buddha’s Life in Verse
The Buddha’s Life and Path: A Continuous Narrative with Prayers and Recitations