Posted by april on June 11, 1999 at 04:47:10:
In Reply to: Re: Compassion posted by Anne Ward on June 10, 1999 at 17:05:25:
: How profound....he was afraid of losing compassion for the Chinese! What a heart and what faith!
: For myself, I am still trying to define compassion that does not get mixed up in mushy/feelings stuff...but I think this man has given me much food for thought.
Anne,
I'm glad you liked it. It reminded me of
the Biblical saying that it is not what
goes into a man that defiles him but what
comes out of him. This man was obviously
not "defiled" by the prison camps but,actually,
grew from his experience in them. We really do
have power over our responses to situations.
: April, do you or anyone else have a problem with a working definition of compassion? Do you *know* if you are compassionate..I mean, we don't sit around saying: aw, that was a compassionate thing I did! I think that is why I am anxiously awaiting Phil's workshop on Love which starts in July! I want to learn more and more about agape love, which i think is tied in with compassion. Any thoughts?
Anne, I don't have a formal personal working
definition of compassion. However, the
following components are present for me: I
begin to see the person's actions as motivated
by ignorance. This allows me to actually feel
empathy for them because I think of the many times
I have acted in ignorance. I actually begin to
identify with them in my quest for understanding.
I, also, remind myself that they may destroy my
body but, if it is at all possible, I will
not let them destroy what I have in my heart.
Hopefully, this is where agape love and
grace kick in!
: forgivenss on line! Now, that is a site I want to visit. In the past i would have been there right this moment, but since my first life confession, I am simply in awe of the healing power of the sacrament of Penance! AWESOME! When I was a good ole protestant, I had asked forgiveness over and over about things, had forgiven my father for his abuse [I thought I had forgiven], but the memories lingered on ...and on! But..after my life confession, it was as if the memories were thrown in the sea of forgetfulness! Honest....I have a hard time even recollecting them at all whereas before they were always there...ready to come forward. No more! and I am deeply, so deeply grateful for this Sacrament provided us by Christ through the Church.
I hope you like the site! It appears that a lot
of work has been done on the topic of forgiveness.
I'm happy you had a such a good experience with
the Sacrament of Reconcilation. I, too, can think
of a time when the great Love shown to me thru
this Sacrament touched me deeply. (I still cry
when I think of it!) I think it has to do with
being fully known by another and accepted. Great
love always makes me cry! God is so good at it!
: whoops...got carried away, but I can get very carried away when it comes to the Catholic Church....THE Church!
: anyway, if anyone wishes to throw out a definition of compassion that one can use in every day life, please do so! Frankly I don't know if it is easy to define.
Anne, I'm so glad you liked the quote.Thanks for
the feedback. I hope others contribute
to this thread, too.
Love,
april
: blessings, and grace,
: anne