Empathy, Lamps (or, Other Peoples Shoes)

I recently downloaded a "freebie" Ebook, "Empathy" by Raoul Martinez. It was an excellent little read. Quite a lot of detail of how our World Economy "works", based as it is upon "realism" and how the world is considered to work. 

Apparently we just cannot afford empathy - that is, according to the politicians and economists. Another way of saying it is that we must always look after Number One.

We are far here from the verse found in the Buddhist Scriptures:-

Protecting ourselves, we protect others.

Protecting others, we protect ourselves.

Well, possibly there is realism and then there is realism. Does our world actually work the way it is?

There is a story in the Buddhist texts of the Buddha descending into Hell. He carries a lamp. By its light for the first time those there recognise that they are not alone. "Ah, there are others here besides myself!" Such a recognition is the beginning of ethics, morality, empathy. 

What shall we see when we live in the light?

Raoul Martinez, in his book, says that empathy trumps forgiveness. He quotes Jo Berry, who lost her father to the Brighton Bomb. Jo later met with the man who planted the bomb, Patrick Magee, who had been released from prison as part of the Good Friday Agreement. Jo says:- "I don't talk about 'forgiveness'. To say 'I forgive you' is almost condescending - it locks you into an 'us' and 'them' scenario keeping me right and you wrong. That attitude won't change anything . But I can experience empathy.........."

Patrick Magee and Jo Berry

Time again for William Blake's "mutual forgiveness of each vice opens the gates of paradise", which gives the context of forgiveness as mutual and thus not of "us" and "them". 

Compassion - a relationship between equals. An American soldier feeds an orphan kitten during the Korean War.

And Pema Chodren again:- 

Compassion is not a relationship between the healer and the wounded. It's a relationship between equals. Only when we know our own darkness well can we be present with the darkness of others. 

For interest, a video of Jo and Patrick:- 

Thank you