ABSTRACT
Continuing on the odyssey of traits found to be instrumental to getting beyond difference, one of the most intense, is compassion. Although one can find solid reference to compassion in the literature, one spiritualist who has become closely associated with compassion is Ram Dass. His journey has been an interesting one. Dass acknowledges the fact that compassion requires a tender opening of the heart. This reference to tenderness is, the author believes, an important one. Dass suggests that the compassionate person is one who is not only tender, but gentle in manner and action. People who have examined and reflected on compassion would challenge the author friend’s notion of doing things “for” people. Compassion demands an equal action where both parties celebrate and grow through the suffering. Robert Fulghum knows that compassion can be realized. Mother Teresa is testimony to that.
