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The first compassion

Sympathy can be a synonym for compassion–feeling someone’s pain and wanting to help him. In other words, experiencing deep affinity, so that rather than running from another’s distress, a person can exist with him in a harmony that gives comfort.

Contemporary Buddhist writings and practice emphasize the importance of compassion. Often within that framing of central virtues a person’s compassionate treatment of other people obscures the necessity of compassionately treating oneself.

The first compassion must be for oneself.

• November 13, 2009
• Filed under: Body and mind
• Comments 0