Empathy is a very popular word that has emerged in today’s culture.
It is about feeling for another person in their situation.

Here is a lovely statement about Empathy from a Vietnamese spiritual writer Thich Nhat Hanh.

 

            Empathy

When you plant lettuce, if it does not grow well, you do not blame the lettuce. You look for reasons why it is not doing well.

It may need fertilizer, or more water, or less sun.

You never blame the lettuce.

Yet, if we have problems with our friends or family, we blame the other person. But if we know how to take care of them, they will grow well, like the lettuce.

Blaming has no positive effects at all, nor does trying to persuade using reason and argument. That is my experience.

No blaming, no reasoning, no argument, just understanding.

If you understand, and you show that you understand, you can love, and the situation will change.