There are many relative concepts expressing those other feelings of a person. These concepts have a rather vague definition; they cannot be measured quantitatively and qualitatively. One such concept is a feeling of compassion. This experience is inherent in each of us. Let's see how to distinguish it from other feelings, and what is good in compassion for a person’s personality.
"What rain is for fire, compassion for anger"
A sense of compassion is what every one of us knows. As soon as the child begins to talk and learn the world, he already experiences the whole range of sensations familiar to the adult. Of course, these emotions are many times stronger than those who survived.
The baby’s anger is strong, love is endless, and compassion, he cries and longs to help. It is not known why people can experience sensations inaccessible to animals. The usual instincts of other representatives of the animal world cannot be compared with love, hatred, jealousy, pity. Perhaps all these manifestations of “humanity” are a great gift or voice of our soul. Compassion in this case is one of the most powerful melodies of a spiritual song in our heart.
Compassion - what is it?
Let’s try to describe what this feeling looks like . When we see the pain of a friend or stranger, in us this sight responds with a voice of compassion. This is expressed in the desire to help, sympathize, console with a kind word or deed. Compassion is not a very pleasant sensation, because, without experiencing any physical or moral impact from the external environment, we nevertheless suffer. On the other hand, this sensation is recognized as very virtuous for the spiritual development of man.
What else expresses compassion? This is not only an understanding of someone else's pain. It manifests itself in sensitivity to others, attention to their problems and experiences, and, of course, in help. Perhaps the highest goal of compassion is precisely the feasible help to the afflicted. It doesn’t matter how well off you are, eloquent. It is believed that to see a person in need of something is a sign for each of us, saying that he needs to help him with everything possible that we have.
Where did compassion come to us?
This feeling is completely new. Feelings of compassion - this is what arose with love for others from the very beginning of the formation of man as a person. A completely natural reaction of a normal person is to help someone who needs help. Compassion and the importance of developing this quality in oneself is much spoken in all religions. Regardless of which god the believers consider their own, everyone knows that compassion is absolutely right and good for the soul. And any religion prescribes helping those in need. We are talking not only about our family and friends, but also about complete strangers.
Compassion today
The modern world does not encourage a sense of compassion. However, the world does not make sense to blame, those who live in it are to blame. From childhood, the idea of "either you or you" that you need to fight for a place in the sun is instilled in children. Let parents raise a child in love, but there is a school, teachers, peers, aggressive television and the Internet. According to many, conscience and compassion are rather atavisms that prevent us from living a full life. The little man quickly realizes how much he needs, and most often he does not have it. Compassion, however, prescribes sharing, giving away what is supposedly not enough for you. We say "supposedly" because if you are healthy and surrounded by the love of loved ones, then you have everything you need.
A new phone, branded clothing will never make you happy, no matter what the advertisement promises. But you are able to make happier the mother of a sick child, an old grandmother or orphans in a shelter with a small personal contribution. But it is very difficult to understand and even more difficult to do.
Do not rush to extremes
However, in addition to the widespread callousness, there is the other side of excessiveness in compassion - it is sorrow and despondency. There are people who, instead of rejoicing at what they have and sharing their happiness with others, are constantly in sorrow. The feeling of compassion in them is hypertrophied. Such individuals see only grief around, and this plunges them into a state of chronic depression. Such a feeling does not carry anything useful for the development of the soul, but only harms. A sane person will not allow himself to be discouraged, just being healthy. Therefore, compassion is only beneficial in its “pure” form.
The meaning of compassion
Why was compassion given to each of us by nature? What is this feeling good for us? The answer is obvious - no practical benefit in the form of accumulation of property, and at the same time a colossal "income" in the form of gratitude.
You must admit that the best that each of us is experiencing cannot be measured in monetary terms. How much is friendship or love? Compassion is also worthless (moreover, it is fraught even with "losses" from an economic point of view). However, succumbing to this emotion and making a donation or talking with someone who is ill, we feel some kind of bright excitement somewhere "in the soul." This is that magnificent feeling that gives meaningfulness to the life of each of us.