You are not empathising, just causing great pain and suffering.
As said above, Buddhists don't proselytize to those who simply
aren't interested. Therefore we don't cause any pain. We simply
mind our own practice, and help those who have an interest to
progress to find the freedom and insights that other fellow
practitioners found through their practice.
If someone is not interested in the total liberation and
awareness the Buddha taught, we rather save our energy and spend it
on our own practice for our own benefit.
Sad to say, almost all my friends aren't interested in these
matters, and I'm not doing anything about it. I am not even trying.
I am not being selfish - just being realistic about what could
possibly come out of it.. Very much similar to how Shakyamuni
Buddha after enlightenment wanted to stay in the forest for the
rest of his life and did not have any intention to teach thinking
that nobody will understand what he is going to talk about. (A
Brahma later invited him to teach by doing his best to convince him
that some will get it)
Maybe this will change in the future, maybe one day I will try
to start convincing someone that true liberation and realization
into the ultimate nature of reality is actually possible. Who
knows, it's all within the realm of possibility. But I am certain I
will not go more than simply mentioning what I know, from
experience, is possible... the rest is totally up to them.
