COMPASSION & EMPATHY "Do not assume that he who seeks to comfort you now, lives untroubled among the simple and quiet words that sometimes do you good. His life may also have (had) much sadness and difficulty, far beyond yours. Were it otherwise, he would never have been able to find these words." Unknown
The quote evoked in me a gnosis of the beautiful blend of compassion and empathy! And while we often use these words interchangeably, there is a subtle difference between compassion and empathy… and yet at some point they meet.
COMPASSION
In true compassion a larger consciousness prevails.
We thus view things from the larger picture, thus is there certain stillness in compassion... a witnessing
Which holds a steady embrace for the 'other'
Embracing both the larger macro... and micro day-to-day view... of the situation
Thus it judges not the others micro view and feelings,
Yet it holds for them a larger lens - and its stillness!
In true compassion a larger consciousness prevails.
Thus is compassion not love the emotion, but the gentle yet powerful force of Universal Love. Strength indeed!
Thus is there complete involvement & being there for the 'other'
yet detachment of the witness mode…
One isn’t drawn into the quicksand with the other & can thus best be there for them.
In true compassion a larger consciousness prevails.
And thus those qualities of pure consciousness that are best required in the moment flow from 'you' to the 'other'.
The right words ‘come’
The appropriate silences ‘happen’
The required gestures – whether it be a holding of hands a pat or doing nothing- ‘naturally flow’.
In analogy
it is like viewing another complain cry and feel the pain
within a game perhaps of snakes and ladders!
You help out the other, you are there for the other who cries out in despair during the play… you understand he is caught up in the seeming snakes... yet your very awareness that the others anguish is only within a game and not his ‘real life’ enables you to flow with compassion instead of getting embroiled!
To be there… yet be tranquil & still… helping him subtly through that energy field… till he can view beyond the game!
EMPATHY
Empathy is when you and the other become one over some situation or emotion
When you are one energetically with another you ‘feel’… and not merely’ understand’
the others situation and feelings!
Empathy is not merely an emotional oneness - but real in energy terms!
It often arises when we have experienced the same - in common parlance when you have ‘been there’ too - and thus it is a ‘reality’ within you
and not an observation or intellectual understanding.
This memory, this shared reality links you energetically - and thus empathy is present…
It also arises when there is deep oneness with the other… when there is no ‘other’… thus in the oneness of a combined energy field you literally become one with the others feelings - often seen in mother and young child before the ‘separation’ begins to happen…
And ofcourse as we move from self to Self
as we expand and become one with Consciousness that we are
we increasingly become one with all that is…
and thus compassion flows towards everyone and everything
EMPATHY & COMPASSION WORKING AS ONE
Yet, inspite of its oneness, this shared energy field, where what happens to the ‘other’ happens to ‘me’… true empathy does not get embroiled or caught up or lost in the ‘others’ situation that you are one with!
Because in true empathy - compassion is inherent- in which we abide as and operate from our higher beingness (as Consciousness Itself) even while we are one with ‘another’ in his moments of seeming pain…
And as empathy means being one in energy terms...our compassion impacts the ‘other’ at energy levels far beyond our words or personal self’s efforts…
this flows energetically from our higher beingness (and Pure Consciousness) that we are established in…
Compassion’s larger view, its stillness, its Love the universal force… heals the one you are one with subtly but potently… as you are one energetically...
Compassion is at-one-ment with… and non judgment of (whatever happens)
and thus the ‘others’ present situation… subtly relaxes in this energy embrace…
Empathy holds an energy embrace
Which allows compassion to permeate and heal
HEALING - COUNSELING - BEING WITH A FRIEND
In true healing… be it physical or emotional... energy sessions or counseling… or simply sharing with a friend or beloved
This combination is ideal!
Empathy (becoming one with the ‘other’- through whichever means) is the door into the ‘other’ - through which Compassion flows to ‘aid’, ‘still’ and awash the other with love… to enlighten them with a glimpse of your larger view, which will unravel within them!
Empathy is the door that consciousness uses
So that (larger) Self can permeate and impact (it’s currently limited) self
From my personal experiences with clients/students/fellow travelers
I have learnt
That when I can look into their eyes and transmit yessss I have been there
I Know. Oh yes I Know (not just understand)
I KNOW what it feels like... to have been in their situation
When there is not even a nuance of why/how/ could the they feel, say, do what they did
When I don’t judge... to the degree that I don’t see anything to not judge!!!
When I sometimes share similar examples from my own life…
Empathy… happens…
and I can feel this subtle shift tangibly… this real oneness… energetically
with the ‘other’ or their ‘situation’…
And sometimes that’s all that is required… truly.
A door opens
A connection ‘happens’
And in this oneness
In this real (in energy terms) embrace
Does the Universe step in to heal…
The appropriate words or silences come… nothing to do with any profound knowledge… or use of divination tools…
The larger (universal) consciousness flows, permeates & impacts its currently limited aspect! There is no ‘me’ doing the session.
Compassion is truly not yours or mine
Compassion is Consciousness… its Love and Wisdom.
And it uses a ‘me’ merely to open a door into that aspect of Self that currently needs to receive directly from consciousness!
Love from my heart to yours
"Things that are real are given and received in silence” - Meher baba |
