The Blessings & Curses of Prodigious Empathy

[RascalPuff]

Empathy is frequently confused for 'mind reading'.

That is not what the blessing and curse of an extraordinary empath is.

The blessing is the clairvoyant vehicularized ability to feel what others feel and to thereby consort with and comfort them - assure veritably suffering individuals and groups that they are not misunderstood or alone.

The curse is the pain that the - inadvertant or vigilant - empath feels, in exchange for the emotionallly roller coasting gift that was betrothed them by Nature.

The gift and burden of above average empathy is rife with rewards, punishments and charleton pretenders who attempt to duplicitously capitalize on the subject.

Clearly, the entire world is in desperate need of more genuine empaths - to contribute to a more caring posture toward those in need of understanding and comfort.

Websters:
The experiencing of one's own of the feelings of another - the capacity for this.
Synonym: Sympathy.
Antonym: Insensitivity, arrogance, sadism.

[Graybeard]

Very moving explanation Rascal ...


greg

[mkirkpatrick]

Come Rascal bring me your pain!Let it be transmuted into realized hope and comforted joy.

I have experienced sometimes very painfully,the radiations of those in severe distress,
both in the empathic spectrum,and also in the sensitive clairvoyant spectrum,the latter is
by far the most acute,and needs careful conscious desensitizing,if one is not to be exposed to an assult of negative radiations from all and sundry.



regards michael.

[Graybeard]

Max Beerbohm wrote a book of short stories called 'Seven Men, and Two Others'. One of these stories was called, from memory, as I can't seem to find any definitive reference on the internet, 'Felix Argallo'

This was possibly the most sympathetic character ever created in a work of fiction. Eventually giving his life in order to appease his consciousness of anothers plight.

Apart from the tragedy implied, it is actually a very funny story.

Strong empathy may eventually prove to be a mental disorder .. In its most excessive form it does not seem to fit Natural Selection. It may be that our interference with Natural Selection, and preservation in our societies of unwonted traits may have led to this. What difference is there between 'Compassion for another' and 'Self Appeasement of one's own mind'. One is 'selfless' and one is 'selfish'. But who can divine the true cause of any act ?

However, the ability to 'truly' put oneself in anothers shoes is possibly mankinds only outstanding weapon in the search for global integration.

cool bananas ... greg

(ps: sometimes even I think I talk a lot of shit)

[RascalPuff]

Max Beerbohm wrote a book of short stories called 'Seven Men, and Two Others'. One of these stories was called, from memory, as I can't seem to find any definitive reference on the internet, 'Felix Argallo'

This was possibly the most sympathetic character ever created in a work of fiction. Eventually giving his life in order to appease his consciousness of anothers plight.

Apart from the tragedy implied, it is actually a very funny story.

Strong empathy may eventually prove to be a mental disorder .. In its most excessive form it does not seem to fit Natural Selection. It may be that our interference with Natural Selection, and preservation in our societies of unwonted traits may have led to this. What difference is there between 'Compassion for another' and 'Self Appeasement of one's own mind'. One is 'selfless' and one is 'selfish'. But who can divine the true cause of any act ?

However, the ability to 'truly' put oneself in anothers shoes is possibly mankinds only outstanding weapon in the search for global integration.

cool bananas ... greg

(ps: sometimes even I think I talk a lot of shit)

_______________________________

IMO, very well spoken, Greg.
Do you happen to be familiar with Ayn Rand's book, 'The Virtues of Selfishness'.?

Regards,
- RP

[Graybeard]

No ... I have not heard of this book .... but I will check it out.

These are my own thoughts on 'empathy'. I am not a christian, nor do I believe in 'spiritually' based beliefs. I am more aligned with the 'chemical' and 'physical' nature of the Cosmos. I myself like to think that I am an 'empathatic' person. In fact it puzzled me as to why I was.

Obviously, with my beliefs, I should be totally selfish. Why not.

I believe that greed is a necessary and efficient natural selection. Especially in economics. Capitalism in all its colours is undeniably effective and offers the most to the majority. The 'guiding hand' principle of greed is amazing, at first repulsive, but when understood in all its complexity, astounding.

I also believe thet 'compassion' in its earliest form found in the earliest mammals, led to what we today call consciousness. The first effective mental 'Natural Selection'

cool bananas ... greg

[Tina]

Extol the blessings and bemoan the curses of empathy - there is a child dying every second from unecessary causes...what will help them...not my wretched empathy it seems.

[Profpat]

[quote=Graybeard;32518]

Obviously, with my beliefs, I should be totally selfish. Why not.

Indeed Greg, Why not?

A great question, have you explored the answer to it?

Best to you,

Pat

[RascalPuff]

[quote=Profpat;35143]

Obviously, with my beliefs, I should be totally selfish. Why not.

Indeed Greg, Why not?

A great question, have you explored the answer to it?

Best to you,

Pat

______________________

Hey guys, take heart, in the light of optimism and fair play, selfishness can and does often include the satisfaction that some people can derive from helping others.

Hang in there,
- RP

[Graybeard]

[quote=Profpat;35143]

Obviously, with my beliefs, I should be totally selfish. Why not.
Indeed Greg, Why not?
A great question, have you explored the answer to it?
Best to you,
Pat

Pat ... Not sure that I get your meaning. My statement wasn't really a question. Many people say that without 'christianity' we would all be criminals. Or if 'Marijuana' was made legal we'd all be pot heads, etc

In other words, if we are not good we will end up in hell, or punished in some other justifiable way. We cannot be trusted to make our own decisions so Gods word must guide us.

However, as I neither believe in God or the Devil, I have no fear of retribution for any evil act I perform. The fact that I happen to be as 'empathatic' as the next person doesn't really fit this standard stereotyped formula.

So therefore I am concluding that 'empathy' is an 'evolutionary natural selection' that is beneficial in ways not immediately apparent. As all evolutionary mutations or selections are 'selfish' by definition, it follows that all of our compassion, sympathy, caring are ultimately selfish at base.

We cast our bread upon the waters, and after many days (we hope) it will return to us.

So Pat as you asked, have I explored the question, I believe I have. Here is a poem from my blog, I think you will like it. (I have read many of your posts and this poem is about as spiritual as it gets for me)

Abou ben Adam

Abou ben Adam (may his tribe increase!)
awoke one night from a deep dream of peace,
And saw, within the moonlight of his room,
Making it rich, and like a lily in bloom,
an angel, writing in a book of of gold.
Exceeding peace had made Ben Adam bold,
And to the Presence in the room he said:
"What writest thou?" The vision raised its head,
And, with a look made of all sweet accord,
Answered, "The names of those who love the Lord."
"And is mine one?"said Abou, "Nay, not so,"
Replied the angel. Abou spoke more low,
But cheerily still, and said, "I pray thee, then,
Write me as one who loves his fellow men."
The angel wrote, and vanished. The next night
It came again, with a great awakening light,
And showed the names whom love of God had blest,
And lo! Ben adam's name led all the rest.

Leigh Hunt


There is a bit of ben Adhem in you Pat ... cool bananas ... greg