I believe it was Walt Whitman who once wrote, “I do not ask the wounded person how he feels, I myself become the wounded person.”

My darlings, how often do we place ourselves fully in the ‘shoes’ of another? To allow ourselves this moment in time to appreciate the depths of their emotion? To learn of their circumstance beyond what the headlines might tell?

In Buddhism, we speak of compassion – but, from the unique vantage point of our willingness to bear the pain of another. This critical distinction helps us to transition from the role of ‘observer’ to that of  ‘active participant’.

That is to say – in our willingness to engage, we subsequently reinforce our connection to all living beings; we become inexplicably joined with each of the beautiful hearts in this world. To ‘become the wounded person’ implies that we must, at some level, share in their burden.

Only then can we truly deepen the practice of empathy.