Showing Mercy and Compassion to an Opponent

There is a distinction between showing mercy and compassion to an innocent suffering person, and between showing mercy and compassion to an opponent or a criminal.

The issue of mercy and compassion emerges when one of the opponents has been defeated. At this stage, the ability of the victor to rise above the need to hate and avenge, and to offer mercy and compassion is to be commended.

It is conceivable that if the loosing party is shown mercy and compassion, this could reform their ways in the future.