Compassion is often regarded as emotional in nature, and there is an aspect of compassion which regards a quantitative dimension, such that individual's compassion is often given a property of "depth," "vigour," or "passion." The etymology of "compassion" is Latin, meaning "co-suffering." More virtuous than simple empathy, compassion commonly gives rise to an active desire to alleviate another's suffering.
It is often, though not inevitably, the key component in what manifests in the social context as altruism. In ethical terms, the various expressions down the ages of the so-called Golden Rule embody by implication the principle of compassion: Do to others what you would have them do to you.
On the other hand in "Butterflies are free to fly" By Stephen Davis says It’s true compassion is the new spiritual buzzword, perhaps helped a lot by the Dalai
Lama. Like “judgment,” compassion has been made to seem “right” and proper and a
“good” thing to have. In fact, being compassionate has become the hallmark of
enlightenment and the most important trait a “good” person must have, in the same way
“judgment” has become a symbol of intelligence and reason.
But let’s find out what compassion really means….
“Deep awareness of the suffering of another coupled with the wish to relieve it.”1
“Sympathetic consciousness of others' distress together with a desire to alleviate it.”2
It should be clear by those definitions that compassion belongs in the first half of the
Human Game, inside the movie theater, and not in the second half.
Why? What’s “wrong” with compassion? Nothing is “wrong.” That would be a judgment. But compassion as it is defined (and practiced) automatically leads a Player to judge the experiences of someone else as “bad” or “wrong,” to think they have the power to change that person’s reality, and to entertain the wish to do so; and none of that is possible or appropriate in the second half of the Human Game. It also inevitably leads the Player who’s trying to be compassionate into frustration, sadness, and sometimes even despair; or, in other words, it leads further into limitation and restriction. Therefore, by its very nature, compassion is not part of infinite joy. It also doesn’t feel like joy; it actually feels “bad” to identify with someone else’s pain and suffering. In fact, we’re supposed to feel “bad” for someone else if we’re compassionate (“I feel bad for them”). The synonyms given in the dictionary for compassion are “pity” and “sympathy.” I doubt anyone would suggest “pity” and “sympathy” feel joyful.
I will leave you to decide what is the best for your soul.
Why? What’s “wrong” with compassion? Nothing is “wrong.” That would be a judgment. But compassion as it is defined (and practiced) automatically leads a Player to judge the experiences of someone else as “bad” or “wrong,” to think they have the power to change that person’s reality, and to entertain the wish to do so; and none of that is possible or appropriate in the second half of the Human Game. It also inevitably leads the Player who’s trying to be compassionate into frustration, sadness, and sometimes even despair; or, in other words, it leads further into limitation and restriction. Therefore, by its very nature, compassion is not part of infinite joy. It also doesn’t feel like joy; it actually feels “bad” to identify with someone else’s pain and suffering. In fact, we’re supposed to feel “bad” for someone else if we’re compassionate (“I feel bad for them”). The synonyms given in the dictionary for compassion are “pity” and “sympathy.” I doubt anyone would suggest “pity” and “sympathy” feel joyful.
I will leave you to decide what is the best for your soul.
No comments:
Post a Comment