Within Dzogchen, compassion is not treated as an external virtue to be added onto practice, but as an intrinsic dimension of primordial awareness itself. The nature of mind, often described in terms of emptiness and luminosity, is said to express itself dynamically as unceasing compassionate responsiveness. When this natural state is recognized, compassion is understood as the effortless energy of awareness, rather than a quality laboriously constructed through concepts or deliberate effort. In this sense, compassion functions as a vital sign of authentic realization: if the view of emptiness does not give rise to care for beings, that view is regarded as incomplete or not fully integrated.

This compassion is characterized as spontaneous, boundless, and impartial. As fixation on a solid self relaxes, the rigid boundary between self and others softens, and concern for the suffering of all beings arises naturally. It is not limited by personal preference or selective attachment, but extends equally, reflecting the fundamental equality of all in the nature of mind. Such compassion is said to be beyond the usual subject–object framework, since it flows directly from nondual awareness rather than from a separate agent who chooses to be kind.

At the same time, compassion is not merely an inner feeling; it is described as the activity or energy of awareness manifesting as beneficial conduct. When natural awareness is present, it tends to express itself in patience, kindness, and skillful responsiveness to circumstances, sometimes gentle and sometimes firm, yet always oriented toward the welfare of beings. This ensures that the realization of emptiness does not slide into a cold or nihilistic stance, but remains inseparable from a living, responsive warmth.

Finally, compassion serves as both the ground and the fruit of the path. Entry into this way of practice is traditionally framed by the intention to awaken for the sake of all beings, so that even the most subtle experiences of openness and clarity are held within a wider altruistic orientation. As recognition of the empty-luminous nature of mind deepens, this initial intention matures into a natural, uncontrived compassion that is no longer something to be cultivated as a separate exercise, but simply the unobstructed radiance of awareness itself.