We are always using the word Homoeopathy as a loanword and describe the meaning, when asked for it. But are we able to actually translate it? This is easier as one might think, but the result is somewhat surprising. The old Greek word of παθαίνω 'pathaino‘ has the meaning: to suffer, to befall. From the Latin language we know this word as passio, the suffering and also the emotion. Our word passive also belongs here, and as well passionate. Suffering in a similar way as someone else or make something (the remedy) to be similar to someone´s suffering, is about going with that suffering and not against it. That was Hahnemann´s idea contrasting “homoeo-“ and “allo-“. “With” in Latin is “cum”, which we find as “com-“ or “con-“ in many European languages. So combined with passio the word compassion is easily built. Compassion is to go with someones feelings and sufferings, to share them and be similar. – As we have no word meaning “feeling similar”, the closest possible translation of “Homoeopathy” seems to be Compassion.

A great word, compassion, a word for a great feeling, which in Buddhism is considered to be the highest one we are capable of. And when in Christianity the word love is used, it is not about personal love (έρως, `eros‘), but about αγάπη, `agape’, the general love of humanity.

As homeopaths we have thus taken up a very big cause, since homoepathy is aiming at a lot more than the repair of individual ailments. In his main work Organon the founder of this art, Samuel Hahnemann, says in § 4: “He [the homeopathic doctor] is likewise a preserver of health if he knows the things that derange health and cause disease, and how to remove them from healthy persons.” Obviously this is not about the ailments of persons who are already sick, but about keeping up the health of all people. Removing all that could make people sick – transferring this claim to our present situation, we see what it would demand of us as homeopaths. Which duty would we have to fulfil taking this demand seriously, how would we have to engage ourselves in society and the world, if we really want to be “homeopaths”, compassionate ones!

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