Compassion
There are three kinds of compassion. One kind is compassion whose
object is living beings as such. Another is compassion whose object
is elements. The third is objectless compassion. These three kinds
of compassion are very different. The compassion whose object is
living beings as such is the compassion of one who thinks beings
are real and their delusions are real, and who wishes to liberate
these real beings from their real delusions. This is sentimental
compassion, which is limited by feelings. It is still just emotion
and desire, not real liberative compassion. The compassion whose
object is elements is compassion of one who sees all beings as
conditional productions of causal relations, as compounds of
elements that have no real person or thing in themselves. This is
illusory compassion for illusory beings, using illusory means to
liberate illusory beings from illusory delusions. Although it
transcends the sticky emotion of sentimental compassion, this
dreamlike compassion still retains the image of illusion, so it is
not yet truly liberated compassion.
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- Muso Kokushi (1275-1351)