I just turned in a paper on compassion and it was considerably harder than I thought it would be. So, since I'm thinking of it it thought it might get other perspectives on similar highly abstract principles. The paper's already done, so don't worry about me using anything you say (not that I ever would but I know how people worry). Here goes:
How do you define compassion (since this was my topic I'm interested)?
What principle do you think is most important in your life?
Who do you most admire for displaying the above principle and why?
What primary factors have shaped your understandings of various principles?
Or answer any other questions you can think of. That is if anyone responds.
*The title is from Thomas Aquinas. I'm really bad at coming up with titles.
LittleMouth posted on Aug 01, 2006
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Comments
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GrapeKoolaid said on Aug 01, 2006....
I think empathy is the well from which you draw compassion(hey that's not bad). To take part in another's life, to share a part of yours... These are the things that bring us joy and alleviate pain. It's in the little things, too. Being polite, opening doors for ladies, saying hello, etc. JMHO, Grape. -
silverwhisper said on Aug 02, 2006....
like grape, i find a lot of relation b/n compassion and empathy. i find empathy particularly valuable. the ability to reason, that's intrinsic to all humans. the ability to empathize is not. mother theresa stood for many people, myself included, as the embodiment of compassion for her treatment of lepers. as to the context framing my understanding of various principles: that's highly-dependent upon the principles in question. could you be more specific? ed -
Root said on Aug 12, 2006....
Compassion has a few meanings in Sanskrit that I like -- Karuna, and Daya -- and I think it is one of the four virtues to be cultivated, according to the Vedas. Along with friendship and happiness, and I forget the fourth. What I always find complicated about it, is drawing that line between compassion for others and taking care of oneself. I get so drawn into the suffering of others, and trying to help take care of their pain, that I forget about protecting myself. It's something my sister has been complaining to me about lately -- a habit of my heart that she thinks gets in my way. But I heard a spiritual teacher say one time that if you had a wound on your own hand, wouldn't you apply medicine to it? It is a symptom of maya's veils that "we" tend to see another's pain as separate from our own. I admire you for thinking differently about the goal of human birth and the purpose of life.