Harry : compassion vs saving-people thing

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 114983


> Del replies :
> Thefreedictionary.com gave me those 2 definitions which are 
fine IMO :
> "a deep awareness of and sympathy for another's suffering"
> "the humane quality of understanding the suffering of others 
and wanting to do something about it "
> 
> To me, compassion has to do with relating to the *suffering* of
 others. It's not about how horrible their circumstances are, it's 
not about whether their life is in danger, it's not even about 
whether they have a valid reason to suffer : it's about recognising 
that someone is suffering, validating that pain, and wanting to do
 something about it. <

The definition as Del is applying it is too narrow for me.True, 
Harry is not much, yet, on providing emotional support. He's  
been able to get by, though not happily, with amazingly little of it 
himself, so it's not surprising that he'd have problems relating to 
this need in other people. 

But "suffering" is not only  emotional and "wanting to do 
something about it" need not be limited to providing emotional 
support. Would anyone really say that the researcher who puts in 
long and lonely hours to find a cure for a disease or the 
philanthropist who "gives till it hurts" aren't  aware of others'
pain and willing to suffer themselves to alleviate it? Isn't that 
compassion too?

Pippin