*** Reply to note of 04/18/95 10:06
Let me suggest another view on wisdom and compassion.
Data, Information and Knowledge are sucessively emdedded and in-forming
(in the latin sense informare) contexts. But altogether they are all
within the mental realm. Wisdom transcends that realm but includes it
also. Let's say wisdom results from ( is a value judegement about?) our
ability to exercise Compassion (and other capacities like Clarity). So
what IS compassion? Our capacity to hold (within our awareness, which is
aprtly mental) the experience of others as they experience it, together
with our experience of their experience, without rejecting, denying,
distorting or in any way invalidating their experience, or our experience
of their experience, in the service of the truth of the situation being
revealed. Sounds wordy but is actually more simple to experience.
Compassion, beyond the concept is therefore an ontological capacity that
can be developed. Question: if this is not "modeled" for us by others will
we exercise it?
Tim Sullivan tjsulliv@BCSC02.gov.bc.ca
Regards,
Tim J. Sullivan
Ministry of Health