Compassion vs Empathy

Empathy is the ability to imagine the feelings, emotions and views of others; to be able to perceive the situation from their perspective, almost as if we're experiencing or sharing their emotions. But if we only practice empathy, we may get overwhelmed ourselves, if we empathize with those who are experiencing extreme suffering.Compassion ('Karuṇā') goes beyond experiencing others' suffering; it focuses on wishing them to be free from all pain and hardship. Developing the intention: "May you be free from all suffering" is not weighing us down. That intention is uplifting and beautifying our own mind. It allows us to witness intense suffering without getting overwhelmed. We're not ignoring or denying the pain of others. We can help and engage, without getting weight down. And even if it's impossible to practically help, we can still develop compassion and keep our own heart bright and wholesome, even in the face of all the hardship that countless beings undergo in the repeated circle of death & rebirth.www.dhammagiri.org.auwww.facebook.com/dhammagiri-forest-hermitagewww.tinyletter.com/dhammagiri/archivewww.vimeo.com/dhammatalks