Compassion vs. Idiot Compassion

From the Oriental Tarot, the Queen of Cups; from the Art of Asia, "Landscape with a Solitary Traveler" (Yosa Buson):

          It intrigues me when I see a chalice with a lid that covers it. There is a sense that something precious and unique lies inside and needs protection. Bursten describes the Cups suit as 'interacting' and the Queens as 'encouraging.' Something tells me this queen is not the emotional sponge often seen in other decks; she's got the intuitive chops to know who to uncover her cup for and when it should stay firmly closed. This particular queen knows all about emotional manipulation, and she can pick up its scent quickly. But if someone were to genuinely open their heart to her, she would gladly do the same. The 'Solitary Traveler' card has been paired with a quote by Anne Morrow Lindbergh: "It is only in solitude that I ever find my own core." Most women are trained from a young age to shape their hearts around whomever they care for; what they like is often only a reflection of someone else's preferences rather than their own. But as they mature, there comes a desire to seek what is important to them (and often a surprise to find it is not what it was originally). Can we be true to ourselves while still having a tender heart?

Compassion is wishing that beings be free from suffering. Idiot compassion is avoiding conflict, letting people walk all over you, not giving people a hard time when actually they need to be given a hard time. It’s “being nice,” or “being good.” It’s not compassion at all. It ends up causing us pain, and it ends up causing others pain. The more someone self-consciously thinks of themselves as compassionate, the more likely it is that they’re a compassionate idiot. Idiot compassion lacks both courage and intelligence. ~ Bodhipaksa