View Single Post
Old 07-10-2009, 09:06 AM   #4 (permalink)
Baraka_Guru
warrior bodhisattva
 
Baraka_Guru's Avatar
 
Super Moderator
Location: East-central Canada
Quote:
Originally Posted by Martian View Post
I also say 'I'm sorry' to Magpie (for example) when I know she's down or not feeling her best, even if I'm clearly not responsible. This is a kind of apology I guess, but is more intended as a show of empathy.
It's not an apology in this case. This kind of "I'm sorry" is more of an "I'm sorry you feel that way." It means you are sympathizing. It's not that you'd say, "Magpie, I see you're feeling down. Now, I know it's not my fault, but I apologize anyway."

And I don't think one should apologize when they aren't wrong. That could do damage, and it's at the very least insincere.
__________________
Knowing that death is certain and that the time of death is uncertain, what's the most important thing?
—Bhikkhuni Pema Chödrön

Humankind cannot bear very much reality.
—From "Burnt Norton," Four Quartets (1936), T. S. Eliot
Baraka_Guru is offline  
 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73