Quotes About Empathy

Our life purpose has both a general and a specific aspect. The first has nothing to do with our work in the world and everything to do with learning how to give and receive love.

Another way to let go of the serious self-importance of the ego that stifles the easy flow of creativity is to spend some time helping other people.

Tonglen is one of the most powerful practices of forgiveness and compassion that one can learn.

Today, be aware of the judgments you make. Whenever you catch yourself judging someone, imagine that you are breathing in their pain in the form of black smoke. Breathe your happiness back to them.

There is a wonderful movement afoot called "random acts of kindness." What a refreshing change from random acts of violence that so trouble our world.

During the day, if you are invited to share your spiritual practice with anyone, remember that humility, non-judgment and respect for other's points of view are the best measure of spiritual attainment.

May all beings be free, May all beings knew the love and beauty of their own true nature, May all beings find happiness in service to all.

young physician obviously didn't give a damn anymore. Her cynicism

When you express feelings, are you stating what is or are you blaming someone? If expressing your feelings generally makes you or other people feel worse—doing harm—try thinking about feelings as teachers, rather than as judges about how the world is treating you.

Seed Thought "Love thy neighbor as thyself" is an unqualified statement. It doesn't say love your good neighbors and your best friends. To love our neighbor is to extend the wish for enlightenment to everyone, including those we might hold in judgment or think of as our enemies.

If judgmental thoughts about others occur during the day, take a minute to send lovingkindness blessings first to yourself, and then to them.

As you watch television, read the newspaper or magazines, or encounter suffering in any form, send lovingkindness blessings. The world doesn't need any more anger or indignation, but it could certainly use more love.

The old adage "Charity begins at home" means that we need to have a loving, growing image of ourselves.

We can only love others to the degree that we have opened our hearts to ourselves. It is not selfish to bless ourselves first, because if our heart remains closed we have nothing to give.

When you catch yourself thinking uncharitable thoughts, mentally resolve to stop and send out more kind, encouraging thoughts.

Thought One of the most important ways we can show our respect and love is by listening carefully when another person speaks. When we interrupt, no matter how important our contribution may seem, we're damming up the flow of energy and giving the other person the nonverbal message that their thoughts and feelings are less important than our own.

May my words be truthful, encouraging and humble. May my words be kind and filled with care.

He who walks in another's tracks leaves no footprints.

The message to the stranger is clear: come right in and disturb our perfect lives. You are the Christ for us today.

I think there's nothing better than laughing in life, so that's nice, to be thought of as someone who can make someone laugh. It's 'cause I think life is hard. You know, my dad was a really silly man. A great Irish silly man. And that's fine.

Humility does not necessarily require me to agree and comply with everyone else's position, but it does demand that I be willing to understand and respect the many sides of every issue.

It is one thing to speak kindly to an irritating stranger on Monday. It is quite another thing to go on speaking kindly to the same irritating relative, or irritating employee, or irritating child day after day, week after week, year after year and come to see in that what God is asking of me, what God is teaching me about myself in this weary, weary moment.

We gain the insight to see ourselves through the friendships we make. They mirror us to ourselves. In them we see clearly what we do not have as well as what the world cannot do without. They do not judge us or condemn us or reject us. They hold us up while we grow, laughing and playing as we go. They bring us to the best of ourselves. "One's friends," George Santayana wrote, "are that part of the human race with which one can be human.

But it's a strange thing, the effect that everyone singing together has- the bond that grows between you, the feeling of unity. It gives you the strength to carry on, when things are hard. And it's hard to hate anyone when you're singing with them; hard to be angry...