Gassho Ciaran,

The point I was making is NOT to practice "Idiot compassion" my friend.
You said, "but i think one would need to have quite an advanced understanding to implement it".
What I meant is one should Not practice it. That is why it is called "Idiot compassion. Idiot compassion is many times mistaken for true compassion. Only the novice attached to just feeling good (dualism) misses the point and does not have compassion (From the latin com and pati) meaning to feel what the other feels.
You should not use it my friend.
That was my point.
Every instance needs a particular Upaya or precise method of teaching and "idiot compassion" is not whoesome upaya. It is just agreeing with or offering advise without all the knowledge of the situation.

I mentioned it to "Myself" because I DID NOT want to sound like I didn't care or give him or her some quotes that you might think will help; but are useless if taken out of context.

I have no idea what point you are trying to make for "Myself" or to me? I truly would like to know if I said something to "Myself" that bothered you. I still would like that person to come out of the self he/she is trapped in and causing the Dukkha of depression.

Chögyam Trungpa is the Tibetan teacher with very unique Upaya (to say the least) that coined the phrase.May I quote Pema Chodrun:
"Pema: Idiot compassion is a great expression, which was actually coined by Trungpa Rinpoche. It refers to something we all do a lot of and call it compassion. In some ways, it's whats called enabling. It's the general tendency to give people what they want because you can't bear to see them suffering. Basically, you're not giving them what they need. You're trying to get away from your feeling of I can't bear to see them suffering. In other words, you're doing it for yourself. You're not really doing it for them."

Metta,

Richard

Responses:

1. Sorry Rich , posted by Ciaran , 02/16/08, 12:33:25.

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