Empathy is not only essential for our spiritual practice, but also from the standpoint of human evolution. We belong to a tribal setting and are born to be connected to each other and interdependent. The need to belong is hardwired in our brains and solidly imprinted on our DNA. Our everyday life has already demonstrated how every facet of it is a function of the whole, but it is through emotional connection that humans can grow and transcend as a species. How to connect and with what? Empathy.
Simply put, empathy is the ability to be in someone else's shoes. When we are able to take the perspective of another individual and see where that person comes from, we will be able to recognise, understand and feel his or her emotions. Compassion goes one step beyond. It comes with a moral intent. It involves the wish for someone to be happy and the desire to alleviate the suffering of the other. While a person may be empathetic and compassionate, he or she may not be altruistic; though the former two qualities are bedrock for the latter. With altruism, there is a sense of selflessness associated and a genuine belief that the well-being of others is equally or more important than that of the self. It involves selfless acts or behaviour that will benefit another individual at a cost to oneself. Often, the incentive comes from the emotional reward from kind undertakings that render the beholder gratification and fulfilment.
The idea of expecting everyone to be altruistic may be a very utopian concept. But we can at least practise empathy and compassion on ourselves, expand to our loves ones and eventually on other precious beings in our lives.
No comments:
Post a Comment