Compassion is perhaps the most valuable and important ethical principle. The dictionary defines compassion as "deep awareness of the suffering of another coupled with the wish to relieve it." Living compassionately means putting the needs and concerns of others ahead of yours. Both Buddhism and Christianity emphasize compassion; this paper will attempt to determine the context in which each ethical system places compassion, and how each system believes the compassionate individual should behave.
Buddhism
Buddhism places the utmost value upon compassion. Buddhism teaches the purpose of each individual's life is to experience happiness. All happiness and suffering is either mental or physical; the mental is the most important kind, for it affects us the most. If we are able to develop compassionate behaviour, we will experience more inner peace and happiness, both mentally and physically. The Dalai Lama says that
Ultimately, the reason why love and compassion bring the greatest......

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Title: "Compassion And The Individual" Within Buddhism And Christianity
Approximate Word Count: 1170
Approximate Pages: 5 (250 words per double-spaced page)

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