Mahasattva's Great Sacrifice and the Theory of Communicating Compassion

There are countless spiritual stories hidden in every nook and cranny of Nepal. The most touching and influential of those stories is the story of the great sacrifice of Prince Mahasattva.

- Vidhu Prakash Kayastha

Namobuddha, located in Kavrepalanchowk district, is the holy land where compassion reached its peak. Today, this place has become a must-see destination for Buddhists and peace-loving tourists from all over the world. Inspired by the story of the great sacrifice of Prince Mahasattva, which I have been hearing from my elders since childhood, I formulated the ‘Theory of Communicating Compassion’. The Government of India has granted copyright to this original theory of mine with recognition of intellectual property. The ‘Theory of Communicating Compassion’ is based on the belief that compassion is not just a silent internal feeling but a dynamic and communicable energy. It can be systematically practiced and shared to enhance social harmony.

The main points of this theory are as follows:

1. Compassion as an active communication

In contrast to the traditional view of compassion as a passive emotion, I have defined it as a ‘communicative act’. For compassion to be effective, the sender must ‘encode’ it and the receiver must be able to ‘decode’ it through specific verbal or non-verbal cues. This includes active listening, empathetic body language, and the use of language that acknowledges the victim's experience.

2. Bridging the ‘self-to-other’

A key pillar of the ‘compassionate communication theory’ is that the communication of compassion begins with self-compassion. If a person harbors hostility within themselves, they cannot authentically communicate compassion to others. Only when a person achieves self-acceptance can they radiate that ‘inner peace’ outward, which creates an environment of trust.

3. Multi-Dimensional Model

The 'Theory of Compassionate Communication’ often divides the communication of compassion into three dimensions:

Cognitive: Understanding the perspective and suffering of another person.

Affective: Connecting or resonating emotionally with that suffering.