Compassion – A TED Talk by Karen Armstrong

Posted in Advocacy, Inspirational, TED
Friday, April 11th, 2008 by James S. Huggins

Tomorrow, I will be flying to Colorado to help a friend go back to California
(see http://JSH.us/helen)

Just a month ago I had helped her come from California to Colorado to try to start something new. That effort did not work. And now, I am working to undo what I did.

Lots of people ask me why.

Is it that I feel responsible? No. It is not.

Then, if not, why. Why take these actions? Why spend this money? Why do these things?

The answers are relatively simple.

1. Because she is a friend … someone I have known on the internet for 10 years … who I have corresponded with a lot, and helped a little, through many ups and downs.

2. Because I believe what I do might help (though I admit that I have been incredibly wrong before).

3. And because I feel compassion.

I’ve written previously about TED. (To see those prior posts, just go to http://www.myephemerae.com/category/ted/).

Today, as I prepare to travel, I wound this most recent TED video about compassion.

It seemed appropriate to share it today.

(Depending on your browser security settings, may need to click twice to start the video. If you are receiving this via email, or want to open the TED site with the video, just click here: http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/234)