Just as compassion is better than pity, empathy is far better than sympathy and compassion because it is active and constructive. I have met hundreds of people who want to help others but have not been able to for a very long time. I think it is the absence of empathy. Touch and tears give momentary solace. I agree that if help results into better position and condition then the feeling motivates one more and more. Feeling of compassion and sympathy is innate in every person without any exception, including violent and harmful people, only varies according to opposite person/s concerned. Even movie, TV soap, pictures etc. move us! Agreed that environment plays a significant role in activating the feeling of compassion. When number of empathatic people will increase significantly, the world will be a better place.
On Nov 6, 2014 bhupendra madhiwalla wrote:
Just as compassion is better than pity, empathy is far better than sympathy and compassion because it is active and constructive. I have met hundreds of people who want to help others but have not been able to for a very long time. I think it is the absence of empathy. Touch and tears give momentary solace. I agree that if help results into better position and condition then the feeling motivates one more and more. Feeling of compassion and sympathy is innate in every person without any exception, including violent and harmful people, only varies according to opposite person/s concerned. Even movie, TV soap, pictures etc. move us! Agreed that environment plays a significant role in activating the feeling of compassion. When number of empathatic people will increase significantly, the world will be a better place.