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5.5 Compassion
Doing more than is expected, To make another's life a little more bearable, Without uttering a single complaint, ...means compassion
1. What do the above 4 lines mean? Does Jainism define Compassion in the same way? A person should do
(more, less) than one feels they are required to do to
(harm, help) someone in any way they can. True compassion is when one helps without expecting anything
(back, forward), and without
(complaining, grining)
2. We all help family and friends. How would you show compassion to an unknown person? Give an example of an incident and what did you do that showed compassion towards that person.
3. Bring a story on Compassion to class.
Activity: Just like Dumb Charades, assume that you cannot talk and do not have hands to gesture and communicate with (lightly tie them up behind your back). The teacher/parent will show you a sentence that you have to act out so that your friends can guess the sentence.
Discuss in a group or write: Is it easy or difficult to express yourself without speech or gestures? Is it easy or difficult to understand another who does not talk or communicate through gestures?
How do animals communicate? How do people who cannot talk or communicate, for whatever reason, feel? Do you feel compassion towards people? Do you feel compassion towards animals? Explain by giving an example.
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THE FIRST STEP OF JAINISM
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