<p><span style=\"background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: \'Times New Roman\',\'serif\'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;\" lang=\"EN-US\">Compassion is important throughout our lives, from birth to death. We are not mere individuals, but we are all part of a deeply interconnected, social mind, with huge potential significance for our future. Compassion is fundamentally a human quality; so its development is not restricted to those who practice religion. Direct compassion for the suffering of living beings is not an easy task to undertake as it presumes they want help or that it is being offered in a form which is useful to them.</span><span class=\"apple-converted-space\"><span style=\"background: white; color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: \'Calibri\',\'sans-serif\'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;\" lang=\"EN-US\">&nbsp;</span></span><span style=\"color: black; line-height: 115%; font-family: \'Times New Roman\',\'serif\'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: \'Times New Roman\'; mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;\" lang=\"EN-US\">We see that compassion is deeply rooted in our brains, our bodies, and in the most basic ways we communicate. Each human being exists within the context of interrelationships that include other human beings, all living beings and the natural world. In other words, each person is sustained by the interdependent web of life. By awakening to this principle we are able to expand instinctive self-love into an altruistic love for others; we are able to nurture the spirit of tolerance and empathy for others. The state of mind of one who ceaselessly strives to transcend this fundamental egocentrism is that of inner peace and tranquility. The heart of such a person is lit with the wisdom of dependent origination, and overflows with the spirit of compassion. Living a balanced life does require that you take the time for self-reflection, identify what\'s most important to you and adopt a healthier lifestyle.</span></p>