The Dalai Lama on Kindness and Genuine Compassion

KINDNESS

Having a heart and a kind and warm disposition is an enormous advantage.  Not only does this bring us joy, but we can share this joy with others.  Relations with individuals, nations and continents deteriorate only from lack of goodwill and kindness, even though these qualities are so valuable and necessary for the quality of life in society. That is why it is worth trying to develop them.

GENUINE COMPASSION

It must be said that genuine compassion is not like pity or a feeling that others are somehow lower than you. Rather with genuine compassion you view others as more important than yourself. Genuine compassion is based on the recognition that others have the right to happiness just like yourself, and therefore even your enemy is a human being with the same wish for happiness as you, and the same right to happiness as you. A sense of concern developed on this basis is what we call compassion; it extends to everyone, irrespective of whether the person’s attitude towards you is hostile or friendly.