How meditation increases our empathy
empathy: the ability to share someone else’s feelings or experiences by imagining what it would be like to be in that person’s situation .
– Cambridge Dictionary
Empathy is about understanding the feelings of another combined with the ability to put oneself in the shoes of another. What are the circumstances (past and present) that are causing them to think, speak, and act in the way they are? What does it feel like to be that person?
Meditation fosters this capacity to step out of our own experiences and understand what it’s like for another human being.
There’s a very important sequence to explain the mechanics of this.
• The basis of all experience is consciousness. You must be conscious and aware to experience the world around you.
• Consciousness is a quantity – we want more of it. Rather than being semi-conscious we want to be fully aware. Fully awake.
• More conscious means you’re more able to perceive the world around you. Greater perception means you can see more and see more clearly.
• When perceptual acuity is strong, you’re better able to understand. Clarity of perception leads to a more complete understanding of reality.
• Greater understanding means we’re able to appreciate why someone is behaving that way. Now that you fully understand the situation, you’re more able to grasp the reasons for a person’s behaviour and speech.
• And when you appreciate, you empathise and connect with another. You can put yourself in the situation of another and be open to the idea: “If I had to deal with what they’re dealing with I’d also feel that.”
Consciousness –>
Perception –>
Understanding –>
Appreciation –>
Empathy
Vedic Meditation is a powerful way to expand your awareness. Every time you meditate, you dive in and experience consciousness in the most pure state – undiluted by thoughts and excitation. Stress and fatigue dissolve and allow an inner reservoir of awareness to become more stable and more available.