5 Compassion Stories That Will Make You More Humane

Team Lifelords | Posted on August 20, 2022 | No Comments |

Last Updated on June 3, 2024 by Team Lifelords

Famous Stories on Compassion That Will Make You A Better Human Being

Stories of Compassion That Will Make You More Humane: Compassion is a virtue that is prized in almost every culture and religion in the world. It’s something you can see in everyday life but not very often. Helping someone is an act of kindness and compassion that everyone admires.

Stories on Compassion

If you need more compassion in your life or want to spread it to those around you with some random acts of kindness, have a look at these stories about compassion. Your small kind gesture could make the day, or even change the life of someone who is in need.

1. The Stingy Artist: An Inspiring Story of A Compassionate Man

Gessen was an artist monk. Before he started drawing or painting, he always insisted upon being paid in advance and his fees were high. He was known as the ‘Stingy Artist’. A geisha once gave him a commission for a painting.

‘How much can you pay?’ Inquired Gessen.

‘Whatever you charge,’ replied the girl, ‘but I want you to do the work in front of me.’ So on a certain day, Gessen was called by the geisha.

She was holding a feast for her patrons. Gessen with fine brushwork did the painting. When it was completed he asked for the highest sum of his time. He received his pay. Then the geisha turned to her patron and said,

“All this artist wants is money. His paintings are fine but his mind is dirty. Money has caused it to become muddy. Drawn by such a filthy mind his work is not fit to exhibit. It is just about good enough for one of my petticoats.”

Removing her skirt, she then asked Gessen to do another picture on the back of her petticoat.

‘How much will you pay?’ Asked Gessen.

‘Oh, any amount,’ answered the girl.

Gessen named a fancy price, painted the picture in the manner requested, and went away. It was learned later that Gessen had these reasons for desiring money. A ravaging famine often visited his province.

As the rich would not help the poor, so Gessen decided to do something. He had a secret warehouse, unknown to anyone, which he kept filled with grain prepared for these emergency situations.

The road from his village to the National Shrine was in very poor condition. Many travelers suffered while traversing it. He desired to build a better road. His teacher passed away without realizing his wish to build a temple.

Gessen wished to complete this temple for him. After Gessen had accomplished his three wishes he threw away his brushes and artist’s materials and retired to the mountains never painting again.

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Stories About Compassion That Tells Who Is A Religious Person

2. A Humorous But Inspiring Story on Compassion For True Seekers

A rather eccentric-looking young man wearing an old brown suit and holding a small, worn, stickered suitcase walked into the center of the city, spun around a few times in the middle of one of the main squares, and then looked up at the skyline.

Fixing his eyes on the closest church steeple, he immediately made his way to the front door of the rectory beside the church. He knocked on the door and asked to speak with the pastor.

When the pastor met him in the parlor, the young man rose to his feet and immediately stood on one foot. Wearing a curious expression, the pastor asked how he could help the man.

The young man said, “I have come very far and wish to settle in this town and join your church; however first I would like you to instruct me in the entire faith as I stand on one foot.”

Assessing the man to be deranged, the pastor promptly showed him the door. Returning to the city center to repeat his spinning ritual, he headed in a new direction to the nearest church steeple.

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Because The Essence of All Religions Is Compassion…

He made his way to the front door of the rectory and repeated his request to speak to the pastor, “I have come very far and wish to settle in this town and join your church; however, first I would like you to instruct me in the entire faith as I stand on one foot.”

Determining the young man to be irrational he also showed him the door. But the young man was not disheartened till yet. A third time he repeated his spinning ritual and headed toward another church steeple.

He knocked on the door of the rectory. An old, slouched, and limping, white-bearded pastor answered the door and showed him into a sitting room. The young man repeated his request saying:

“I have come very far and wish to settle in this town and join your church; however first I would like you to instruct me in the entire faith as I stand on one foot.”

The pastor looked at him through timeworn but wise eyes and smiled saying, “Love God, love your neighbor, love yourself – the rest is all commentary.”

Satisfied with the response, there and then, still standing on one foot, the young man decided to settle in the city and join the parish church.

Source: Inspired by a story told by the Talmudic sage Hillel

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3. Who Is Responsible For Anarchy: A Story of Compassion

A rich Muslim went to the mosque after a party and had to take off his expensive shoes and leave them outside the mosque. When he came out after prayer, the shoes were gone. “How thoughtless of me,” he said to himself.

“By foolishly leaving those shoes here I was the occasion for someone to steal them. I would have gladly given them to him. Now I am responsible for creating a thief.”

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4. A Short Story About A Compassionate Man And A Toddler

Last night, while waiting to board our plane, Carter Jean was being her usual inquisitive self wanting to meet and say “Hi” to everyone she could, until she walked up to this man. He reached out and asked if she wanted to sit with him.

He pulled out his tablet and showed her how to draw with it. They watched cartoons together, and she offered him snacks. This wasn’t a short little exchange, it was 45 minutes.

Watching them in that moment, I couldn’t help but think of different genders, different races, different generations, and the best of friends. This is the world I want for her.

In a country that is so deeply divided by beliefs, I want her life to be filled with moments like this… not liberal or conservative republican or democrat, socialist or capitalist, just HUMAN.

Joseph from Samsungus in Oklahoma, if this should happen to find you. Thank you for showing my daughter what kindness and compassion look like.

Courtesy: Amelia Moore

5. The Moon Can’t Be Stolen: Story of A Zen Master & A Thief

Ryokan, a Zen master, lived the simplest kind of life in a little hut at the foot of a mountain. One evening a thief visited the hut only to discover there was nothing in it to steal. Ryokan returned and caught him.

‘You may have come a long way to visit me,’ he told the prowler, ‘and you should not return empty-handed. Please take my clothes as a gift.’

The thief was bewildered. He took the clothes and slunk away. Ryokan sat naked, watching the moon. ‘Poor fellow,’ he mused, ‘I wish I could give him this beautiful moon.’