Compassion vs perfection

I often wonder. Why is it that compassion is an often talked about quality and yet why is it so difficult? Does it have anything to do with the way we have evolved? Must be right? Because when a child is born- if it were to start thinking whether it should drink milk or not, if the food being given to it should be eaten by it or not — if the others around him do not have enough to eat, would it survive? We are born weak and helpless- and it is the compassion of our parents that helps us grow up.

Now here comes the interesting part- once we have grown strong enough, most of us start exhibiting varying degrees of compassion. Some by nature are more sensitive and caring. Some on the other hand — much more self centered and self absorbed. Conversley, the self absorbed ones tend be higher performers. So then is there a contradiction here? Between compassion and perfection?

In my own case what I have realised is that being sensitive and being focused at the same time are truly difficult things. So when I am in my “zone”- I tend to forget the world. And if someone disturbs me then- compassion is hard. So how to reconcile these differences?

I think we need to learn from the Masters. Buddha it is said always used to think carefully before speaking or acting. So maybe that was how he was able to balance his thoughts words and actions with compassion. So this shows compassion is not something that comes very easily to us humans. Rather it is an acquired skill which we need to practice and master!