IN BRIEF: Definitions –

Compassion Applied Compassion — The practice of employing com- in specific cases as part of the process to prevent Compassion — because it’s a motivation — emanates or alleviate . from the emotional and/or mental “bodies.” Compassion is sometimes confused with , , , and Degrees of Suffering charity. Its applications — compassion awareness, compas- First Degree — Necessary Suffering sion bypass, compassionate action, and applied compassion Any suffering resulting from attachment to a hoped-for — can also be confusing. The definitions below may help to outcome that is not seriously injurious. Examples are: clarify the differences. being passed over for promotion, having a favorite team Compassion —A of deep sympathy and concern lose a game, and arriving at a shop to find it is closed. for one who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by Compassion goal: relief by listening, bearing witness, a strong to alleviate the suffering. and providing support. Compassion Advocacy — The act of raising awareness Second Degree — Non-life-threatening Suffering about the nature and need for compassion. Any suffering that is injurious but not life-threatening. Compassion Bypass — A form of self-gratification in Examples are bodily injury, loss of a loved one, seri- which one thinks about compassion in the belief that ous economic loss, doing “soul-crushing” work, mental they’re feeling it. When compassion bypass is turned illness, and . Compassion goal: immediate into action, if can take the form of gratuitous behavior relief by removing the source of injury, minimizing the designed to make the person presenting with it believe impact of the injury, and/or providing support. that they are truly compassionate when, in fact, they Third Degree — Life-threatening Suffering have no emotional investment in the act and the act has Any suffering in which the reasonable chance of a fatal done nothing to directly alleviate suffering. outcome is present. Examples include domestic vio- A person may present with compassion bypass for the lence, terminal disease, war, starvation, exposure to ex- purposes of impressing others with the appearance of treme elements, ethnic cleansing, and suicide ideation. compassion or as a means to avoid the commitment, Compassion goal: immediate response to alleviate the emotional investment, or difficulty associated with com- situation and, if no other recourse is available, providing passionate action. comfort. Compassionate Action — Taking personal responsibility Related Terms for alleviating and preventing suffering. This requires Empathy — The intellectual identification with or vicari- , competency, and commitment. There are three ous experiencing of the , thoughts, or attitudes question, which answered in the positive, confirm com- of another. passionate action — • Does the act prevent or respond to suffering? Sympathy — The fact or power of sharing the feelings of • Does the person exercising the compassionate act another, especially in or trouble. have an emotional connection to the suffering? Pity — Sympathetic or kindly sorrow evoked by the suffer- • Does the exercise of the compassionate act exact ing, distress, or misfortune of another, often leading one some form of payment (physically, emotionally, to give relief or aid or to show mercy. mentally, environmentally, and/or spiritually) from Charity — Generous actions or donations to aid the poor, the person exercising that act? ill, or helpless.

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