Concept in Definition ABC

The term compassion is one that refers to the feeling by which a person can feel pity for someone who is suffering. Compassion does not mean that the person feels exactly the same as the one who suffers, but that he accompanies him in that suffering because he also feels sorry at some point. Compassion is considered one of the feelings more human than can exist since it means that a person can, even involuntarily, approach another who suffers or is in distress without necessarily going through the same situation.

The word compassion comes from the Latin term cumpassio which means 'to accompany'. This means that compassion makes a difference with other feelings since what it has of particular is that the person who feels compassion does not necessarily suffer the same as the one who does, but watch the other in a situation of pain, anguish, fear or hopelessness is what marks it. Compassion is what allows the human being to stop, at least for an instant, from

think in himself to think of the other even when suffering does not correspond to that person who feels compassion. It is a way of getting closer to the other and feeling the terribleness of that suffering.

In general, most religions emphasize the importance that a feeling such as compassion has for the Humanity since it is considered that through it the human being can be kinder, more supportive and more noble because compassion is what makes someone feel or seek to accompany the other. In fact, for the monotheistic religions compassion is not only present in the human being but also mainly in the divinity, who is compassionate and kind to man so that he can imitate live picture in his daily life that message.

Beyond religious matters, compassion is a capacity that all human beings (even some animals) can develop throughout his life in different situations. Those people who are unable to feel compassion are usually people who have gone through some kind of trauma or pain so great and constant that it prevents them from feeling pity for others.

Themes in Compassion