What is compassion and loving-kindness?
Compassion and loving-kindness implies wanting others to be free from suffering, just as you wish it on yourself. It is the highest level of motivation in living. You live to free others of suffering, and hence your own. To generate genuine compassion, you need to realize that you are suffering, too, just like everybody else. You want to free others of suffering in order to free yourself of your own suffering. Your life will never be the same – there will be no spiritual vacuum in your life to be filled by depressive negative thoughts, and each day of your life will become purposeful and meaningful. This is the power of compassion and loving kindness of Buddha, which is not much different from the Christian principle of loving your neighbor as yourself. Essentially, compassion and loving kindness embodies a warm heart, helping and serving others, respecting others for who they are, and being less selfish or self-centered. True compassion is not just an emotional response but a firm com
