Compassion is an aspiration, a state of
mind, wanting others to be free from suffering. It's not passive - it's not
empathy alone - but rather an empathetic altruism that actively strives to free
others from suffering. Genuine compassion must have both wisdom and
lovingkindness. That is to say, one must understand the nature of the suffering
from which we wish to free others (this is wisdom), and one must experience
deep intimacy and empathy with other sentient beings (this is lovingkindness).
Dalai Lama
