compassion...

what does it mean?

i brought up this topic in my religion class the other day. the religion is not important, because it is the concept that is. what does it mean to be compassionate?

to be kind? helpful? these were some concepts that came up. in my dictionary this is what was presented: sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others.

a story was presented of a classmate who owns property, and rents out the houses. that sometimes people skip on their rent, take off, and with them the appliances in the house. the christian in her allows this. a helping of others. they must need it more than i attitude.

is this compassion?

i presented just the opposite concept...this is not compassion, but enabling, and being taken advantage of.

compassion is a dichotomy.

being taken advantage of in the name of compassion, enabling in the name of compassion is not compassion. doing the right thing by helping someone out to better themselves is compassion. if that means, in some perceived way, being mean to them...then that is compassion. if the above is the christian concept of compassion, then it is not wonder that i want no part of that.

coming from a buddhist perspective, it is a very difficult concept. a difficult moral decision. what becomes the compassionate route? compassion is difficult. however; i am then reminded of what nietzsche said about what is worth having...it is never easy...

amitabha...