Is it compassion to suffer with the suffering one?

The following is an excerpt from a samvaad (dialogue) session with Acharya Prashant.

Question: Acharya Ji, would it be an act of compassion, to suffer with the one who is already suffering?

Acharya Prashant (AP): It depends totally on you. There can be no principles in this matter.

The one who is suffering, is suffering, because he is deluded.

Remember that suffering is always a choice.

The one who is suffering is suffering because out of delusion, he has chosen suffering. He must be having his reasons. Everyone, who chooses anything, always has some reasons to quote.

The fellow who is suffering surely must be having some reasons to offer.

And now, you too start suffering along with him. You too have a certain reason to offer.

The reason is compassion.

What do you think, the other fellow, the one you intend to help, is an utter fool? He too has his reasons. Do you know what he is suffering for? If you will ask him, “What are you suffering for?”, he will say, “Love.” So, he is suffering for love, and you are suffering for compassion, and seeing the two of you suffer, a third one comes to rescue both of you. And what is he suffering for? Wisdom. And then a…