What is Compassion?

Compassion highlights the experience of suffering for those who suffer (which is all of us), inflicting pain to those who, tough or not, courageous or not, smart or not, have been granted the ill-fated gift of looking at the world and seeing it for what it really is. True compassion is not a mask that distorts notions of social responsibility (for example, when you see a homeless person and give them something because of guilt.) It is when you see someone in misery and you feel their hurt as if it was your own, and you strive to remove or reduce their anguish. By compassion we make others' misery our own, and so, by relieving them, we alleviate ourselves.

Sharing, eagerness to console, and to show sympathy and concern and caring are all demonstrations of compassion. Care and love towards others has its genesis in care and love for themselves. It is lack of love for yourself that inhibits compassion. You can only begin to understand others when we fully understand yourself. You will know what’s best for others when you know what’s best for yourself. You can feel for others when you feel for yourself.

It takes courage and honesty, for in order to help other people, you must observe their suffering while simultaneously feeling their sorrow. You have to let that distress pervade your spirit while at the same time not allowing yourself to become distraught or disheartened. You need to accept the sorrow in the world to acknowledge and understand the human condition.

It is far more complex to feel sympathy for people we find unpleasant or don’t know than for our friends and family. Have compassion for all people, wealthy and deprived alike, for each has their suffering. Some too much, others too little. You need to increase the span of your compassion until it embraces all living beings without exception.

Any ordinary favor you do for someone or any reaching out may seem to go nowhere at first, but you may be planting a seed that will sprout and grow and blossom that you just can't see right now. Sometimes we all need to just do the best we can and then trust in this miraculous unfolding plan that is our life.

Love,

Kacki