BUDDHIST COMPASSION

The altruism that Tibetan Buddhism is known for arises from compassion.  Compassion is tied to the fundamental teaching of Buddhism that all sentient beings suffer.  To be alive is to suffer.

In his book The Compassionate Life, His Holiness the Dalai Lama explained compassion this way:

“True compassion is not just an emotional response but a firm commitment founded on reason.  Because of this firm foundation, a truly compassionate attitude toward others does not change even if they (the others) behave negatively. 

“Genuine compassion is based not on our own projections and expectation, but rather on the needs of the other:  irrespective of whether another person is a close friend or an enemy, as long as that person wishes for peace and happiness and wishes to overcome suffering, then on that basis we develop genuine concern for their problem.  This is genuine compassion. 
 
“For a Buddhist practitioner, the goal is to develop this genuine compassion, this genuine wish for the well-being of another, for in fact (the well-being of) every living being throughout the universe.”