Compassion is, then, virtuous and desirable, but how does compassion make me a happier or better human being?

"I will answer this with an example. When I meet someone on the street, I am reassured of my human feelings. Regardless of whether I know him or not, I smile at him. Sometimes there is no response; sometimes there is suspicion. But I get the benefit of smiling. Whether the other person gets any benefit or not depends upon his own thinking as well as on the circumstances.

"The rewards of practicing compassion go first to the practitioner. I believe it is very important to understand this; otherwise, we will believe that compassion benefits the other and has nothing for us.

"A compassionate attitude helps you communicate easily with fellow human beings and other central beings. As a result, you make more genuine friends; the atmosphere is more positive, which gives you inner strength. This inner strength helps you voluntarily concern yourself with others, instead of just thinking about your own self.

"Scientific research has shown that those individuals who often use words such as me, I, and mine face a greater risk of a heart attack. If one always thinks of oneself, one's thinking becomes very narrow; even a small problem appears very significant and unbearable.

"When we think of others, our minds widen, and within that large space, even big personal problems may appear insignificant. This, according to me, makes all the difference."