Thank you Gus. Some I agree with and some I disagree w/. I agree that suffering is optional, and that pain is a given in life. Pain is the touch stone of spiritual growth. At least that's what I believe.

However, I don't believe that empathy comes from "still feeling" the pain. I think it's more of I can feel what the person is going through. I've never been raped, but I can "feel" the pain that my friends that have have gone through.

I also believe that w/o being able to sense what the other person is feeling, is a must to be able to show compassion. How can you be compassionate w/o first "feeling" what the other person feels?

Thank you again Gus, you have given me some things to thing about.