"An IS-warrior has the same ambitions for his children as we"

Perhaps the seeds of compassion planted in his youth, says Thupten Jinpa. As a child of Tibetan refugees in an Indian camp workers were the circumstances are serious, but despite all the hardships he claims to have some memories of warmth and affection to his parents and youth in India. "I do not know how, but they have a hopeful and positive attitude to humanity it instilled in me."

Thupten Jinpa is smiley. He often ends his sentences with a big grin on his face, followed by an infectious laugh, even when talking about serious subjects.

Basic rights of the individual
"Look at the Universal Declaration of Human Rights," said Jinpa. "A crucial document rooted in the ideal of compassion. We never wanted war, and paintable our society with the recognition of the basic rights of the individual as a foundation. They have become the norm. People use them to assess a system and require human rights. The nations that have embraced that ideal flourished. " The same can do compassion according Jinpa.

But what does the former Buddhist monk - he left the monastery because he had a desire for family life - when he speaks of compassion? He kindly said to have a fairly simple definition. "Compassion is the natural feeling of anxiety that comes to us from the face of someone who is suffering or in need. That we want to do something." The urge to help is a natural impulse, says the Tibetan. Compassion is according to him like love: you do not need to learn it. "We do not need to learn to be compassionate, as we do not learn to love."

What we have to learn to do according Jinpa, is how to "stir up" natural side of ourselves.Because that man is naturally capable of compassion, according to the Tibetan means not always come out the right way.

extreme situation
"We tend to reserve compassion for a small circle of people around us, friends and family. In the case of strangers, it is activated only in an extreme situation. When someone is bleeding and screaming for help." We respond when people said Jinpa, and we do not ask ourselves whether we know the person well or speak our language. "That do not need, because the suffering and distress cut through all layers of discrimination."

According to the Tibetan tends to limit people in the West compassion to the religious domain, or banished to a place where it is expected, such as in hospitals. "It plays a role in everyday life. Rarely do we react in a confrontational situation with compassion and understanding. We let it lie too often as a reaction to a situation, but we use it as a force which we relate to the rest of the world."

By Editorial Volkskrant: Paul Rider Photo: Jean-Pierre Jans