Thank you, CCARE, for starting this discussion, as it is a very important one. I agree with Miller (2007) that no one single definition of compassion will perfectly capture the concept. The definition of how I personally experience compassion continues to evolve as I deepen my own learning. Here is my offering based on my work with the practice team at Sacred Service at Aslan institute (sacredserviceaslaninst.org).
Compassion is an embodied response that innately arises when loving-awareness of our own suffering meets the suffering of another being. In this way of “suffering with” another, compassion is an expression of nondual interconnectedness.
The definition I would give to compassion is feeling the collective suffering. In order to do so, one needs to first become aware of their own suffering, and surrender to it. This breaks open love for the suffering of all.
Tina S.
Sacred Service at aslaninst.org
Research Team
Thank you, CCARE, for starting this discussion, as it is a very important one. I agree with Miller (2007) that no one single definition of compassion will perfectly capture the concept. The definition of how I personally experience compassion continues to evolve as I deepen my own learning. Here is my offering based on my work with the practice team at Sacred Service at Aslan institute (sacredserviceaslaninst.org).
Compassion is an embodied response that innately arises when loving-awareness of our own suffering meets the suffering of another being. In this way of “suffering with” another, compassion is an expression of nondual interconnectedness.
The definition I would give to compassion is feeling the collective suffering. In order to do so, one needs to first become aware of their own suffering, and surrender to it. This breaks open love for the suffering of all.
Tina S.
Sacred Service at aslaninst.org
Research Team