An Essay on the Virtue of Compassion
by Compassion in general covers a whole gamut of feelings, such as pity, kindness, clemency, charity, forgiveness, etc. We would have lived in a chaotic world in which malice and cruelty would have been rampant and life itself would have succumbed to perennial pain and suffering.
Compassion is a virtue that links itself to the knowledge that, as human beings, we are all subject to the ups and downs of circumstances and that none of us could be excluded from certain problems that call for such a virtue, regardless of power, opulence, or any degree of intellect and intelligence. Compassion strikes a balance between abundance and want, guilt and innocence, war and peace, as well as a host of other factors that fall within the purview of human relationships. No nation could possibly retain its national pride without the inclusion of certain laws of compassion, nor could it, in good conscience, be acknowledged favorably by other nations if it chooses to conduct its affairs in any way that denies freedom to its people.
The misery of hopelessness and despair calls for compassion and the awakening of conscience in the way of sympathizing with those in dire circumstances. Any kind of sympathy that we show is considered as a form of compassion, not necessarily monetary in nature. Charity is an act of compassion that holds a special place in society. In this category, it is not just money and provisions that are doled out to the needy, from time to time, but encouragement, acts of volunteering our time and effort in the way of helping others; consoling and uplifting the sagging spirits of those that are depressed, as well as opening lines of communication, in order to promote acts of compassion.
Under certain circumstances, judges employ the need for compassion by reducing the severity of penalties. Showing compassion to others is a blessing that has its reward. The recipient of an act of compassion might breathe a sigh of relief and express gratitude at that particular moment, as we, ourselves, should feel equally pleased for having timed our act precisely at a point when it was most needed. Any kind of compassion serves to add to the reservoir of human needs from which we draw from the experiences of others.
When we dwell on the virtue of compassion, we must also include animals. The pets that we choose as domesticated companions need our wholehearted attention, as well as our full measure of compassion, in many respects. We must count them as additional members of our family, definitely deserving of our tender, loving care, at all times.
There is no better time for compassion than the present. It is not enough to work hard and pity ourselves in the process. Our success and failure in life might prove to be the end result of how we choose to conduct our affairs, from time to time. Money and power could never transcend deeds of caring and love, both of which could, indeed, be abundantly fruitful and rewarding.
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