“Commiseration is the principle of benevolence.” Commiseration defined as a feeling or expression of pity or sorrow, while benevolence is the disposition of one’s self to do good, a disposition made up of choice and desire for the happiness of others. With the given definitions of related two terms, we could clearly see and reflect that indeed they have a closer connection. Commiseration and benevolence are both positive attitudes that a good man possess. Indeed, Mencius is true to his statement, that commiseration is the principle of benevolence. Commiseration is one of the best ingredients for a person to become benevolent and charitable to others. Commiseration as an expression of giving sympathy to others means that a person feels the emotions and expression that others also feel. There is a similar feeling in another person, a shared feeling. There is a sharing of unhappiness and suffering. There is an awareness to what others feelings and emotions. This good attitude or value leads a person to become sensitive to the feelings and needs of others, to become selfless in serving, in helping and in loving, to become a good listener and adviser, to become a man for others, to become a light to those who are in great despair and sufferings, to become a good companion and friend to others, to become a good person as a whole. With this simple act of goodness to others which is the sharing of expression of sadness or commiserating, a person’s whole being is being molded into a good, more mature and well- pleased behavior. A person expresses his pity and sympathy to others because it simply shows that he cares, understands, worries, and loves them. He has able to realize and see that as a brother to others he has to show his concern to them, to give also himself in listening and in comforting them, and to make grateful and good things to others that could bring happiness to their faces and comfort or relief to their unbearable loneliness and burdens. With your act of goodness to others, they are not the only one benefiting, but you are the one benefiting more. You may feel happier and more fulfilled in life.
People are very busy these days to care about their studies, personal needs and wants, careers, concerns and hobbies. There is no time left to be aware and conscious of other’s troubles, to be sensitive to other’s unhappy feelings, and to actually help others to solve their problems. They become more focus and concerned of their selves. They already forgot that others also need their presence. By this, they tend to become selfish, self-centered, insensitive, egocentric and solipsistic individuals. These days people seem to have a lot of things to care about. Kids care about computer games they are going to play, and which programs on TV they are going to see. College students care about how they are going to pass in their course, and who are they going to date. Other people care about how to earn money and to become successful in life. Have we ever care about the feelings of others when they are in great loneliness? Have we ever taken time to commiserate or to feel sympathy to those disables and poor people? Oftentimes, we neglect to develop the value of commiseration or being sympathetic. The commiseration which is the action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to other’s feelings, thoughts and experiences, is very important not only to ourselves, but also to our whole community. I do believe that chaos, conflicts, misunderstandings, discrimination, crimes, murders, injustices, selfishness, greed and lust still exist and will continue to exist that can ruin and destroy the society is because people forgot to become aware and sensitive to the feelings, emotions, thoughts and experiences of others. They do not the time for others. This is great call and responsibility to all of us that we must also develop the value of being sympathetic and sensitivity. We do not act as really busy persons. We have to slow and stop for sometime and reflect or meditate. There we will be enlightened and awakened to the reality of life that we have still brothers and sisters that need our very presence, our comfort, good advises, help and support.
People are very busy these days to care about their studies, personal needs and wants, careers, concerns and hobbies. There is no time left to be aware and conscious of other’s troubles, to be sensitive to other’s unhappy feelings, and to actually help others to solve their problems. They become more focus and concerned of their selves. They already forgot that others also need their presence. By this, they tend to become selfish, self-centered, insensitive, egocentric and solipsistic individuals. These days people seem to have a lot of things to care about. Kids care about computer games they are going to play, and which programs on TV they are going to see. College students care about how they are going to pass in their course, and who are they going to date. Other people care about how to earn money and to become successful in life. Have we ever care about the feelings of others when they are in great loneliness? Have we ever taken time to commiserate or to feel sympathy to those disables and poor people? Oftentimes, we neglect to develop the value of commiseration or being sympathetic. The commiseration which is the action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to other’s feelings, thoughts and experiences, is very important not only to ourselves, but also to our whole community. I do believe that chaos, conflicts, misunderstandings, discrimination, crimes, murders, injustices, selfishness, greed and lust still exist and will continue to exist that can ruin and destroy the society is because people forgot to become aware and sensitive to the feelings, emotions, thoughts and experiences of others. They do not the time for others. This is great call and responsibility to all of us that we must also develop the value of being sympathetic and sensitivity. We do not act as really busy persons. We have to slow and stop for sometime and reflect or meditate. There we will be enlightened and awakened to the reality of life that we have still brothers and sisters that need our very presence, our comfort, good advises, help and support.
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