[SkatrySkith]

hi Mandy

welcome

compassion is the wish and intention to prevent & end suffering

so, in the work place or more superficial social life, compassion is generally only applicable in small ways

i suppose what the Dalai Lama is explaining is the general attitude: "How can I be of help to others?"

for example, in a more serious relationship, such as marriage, our compassion focus would be: "What are the sufferings/needs of my partner and how can I act to alleviate those needs/sufferings?"

such a compassionate attitiude is different from the self-centred attitude: "How can my partner make me happy?"

so in more superficial relationships, compassion is tuned more towards more subtle things, such as "How can I help my fellow workers?" or "How can I be an object of safety, i.e., not to offend of upset my friends?"

for example, not to say things to criticise the loved cars of those sensitive burly mechanics


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in the teachings of Buddhism there are at least four mature emotions used for the basis of relationship:

(1) metta: friendliness; respect; good-will (the opposite of hatred)

(2) karuna: compassion; empathy (the opposite of cruelty)

(3) mudita: appreciative joy; to be happy for the happiness/good fortune of others (the opposite of envy)

(4) upeka: equinimity; balance of mind when we cannot help

so we can develop all four of these mature emotions (rather than just one)

kind regards

element