Henry David Thoreau once said: the mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. We’re always seeking something, but we’re merely pouring water into a leaky cup, throwing our gold and diamonds into a furnace that never dies down. What is this fever that afflicts humanity, and what is the antidote?

Compassion is Happiness and peace. Anything else is fake. How do we find happiness, how do we find that peace?

Your unhappiness are merely products of your own mind. If you think those around you make you unhappy, if you think your surroundings have caused your darkness, then you are wrong. You are unhappy already. You have projected your unhappiness onto them; they only reflect what is inside you.

Compassion springs forth from the heart; it is the heart, the ocean. It is not just a feeling, feelings are merely ripples. They cost nothing, and they mean nothing.

This is something that western psychologists have often gotten wrong; they’ve categorized compassion as a feeling – a mere emotion! No different from anger, from humor, from pride. These are all fleeting, they’re all based on something that passes away in time.

Wouldn’t it be great to shield ourselves, our loved ones, from all the suffering, all the injustices in the world?

Yes…and no. There are many things I wouldn’t wish upon my worst enemies. But sometimes, just sometimes – suffering has to happen.

I used to know this girl; petite and cheerful, of Asian descent. In particular, I remember one story about her: She was walking down the street one evening, happening to walk by some racist thugs. Totally unprovoked, they decided to have some fun with her, and began shouting out insults, spitting at her feet.

This will sound harsh – but until we move out of our own sorrow, perhaps it is better to keep quiet. Until we find the blissfulness and serenity within, perhaps it is better not to think about compassion and kindness towards others at all. There is so much guilt based on finding peace and Love within ourselves; it is all the result of false conditioning.

Compassion, the helping of those in need, is espoused as one of the greatest virtues a person can have. And there is no doubt it is a great virtue – but what if there are right ways and wrong ways to go about it? What if, in trying to help, we sometimes end up hurting ourselves – or the person we are trying to help?

Conversations between a Christian blogger and the Urban Monk. The approaches to the servant heart – the heart of Compassion, and the contrast between self sacrifice and self love.