The Power of Compassion

 The Power of Compassion

 1
Compassion = The Golden Rule

The “Golden Rule” in its  many forms is a universal moral principle common to most religions. The key word might be “as”: do unto others as you would do unto them.  It is an invitation to reciprocity that combines rule-drive and empathy-drive approaches to ethics. 

2
Compassion = Moral Imagination

Compassion invites us to imagine ourselves in the “shoes” of other persons.  To value their inner life as we valueour own.  The catch is that not everyone has this gift----up to 5% of the population lack it (“psycho-paths” or “socio-paths”).  Many socio-paths rise to the top of political, corporate and religious organizations. 

3
Compassion = Learned Behavior

Luckily enough, life is full of opportunities to learn about compassion.  We can learn from people who are naturally kind.  We can learn from those who don’t have a clue.   We can be prompted by parables such as “The Good Samaritan”,songs like “Granma’s Hands” or by proverbs: “Before you judge another person, walk a mile in their shoes”.

4
Compassion = Accurate Empathy

To compensate for the errors or lack of “Moral Imagination” we can learn the art of “Active Listening”.  We can learn to check what we think we heard and let the speaker correct us.  This can create a “safe zone” to speak difficult truths and to get re-synchronized with our partner.

5
Compassion = "Truth Force" or "Tough Love"

For those who lack empathy, don't like to listen or are "hard-hearted," we may need another approach.  Gandhi called it "Truth Force" (satyagraha). More recently it has been called
"Tough Love".  We don't need to attack another person, but we do need to "speak our truth" and"stand our ground."   For example, after every tragic school shooting some members of congress offer pious prayers while taking millions of dollars from the National Rifle Association.  Several commentators have said: "Thank for your prayers Senator John McCain---why don't you give back the $7 million you've taken from the NRA?" or "Representative  _____: we did not send you to  Congress to pray. We sent you there to solve problems  by passing laws.  We need a ban on automatic weapons to make our children and our schools safe again."