Contemplating the “near enemy” and “far enemy” of each of the Four Immeasureables has helped me greatly to be on the lookout for egoic impersonations that are masquerading as the actual qualities I’m hoping to cultivate. Here’s the list as I’ve learned it:

1. Loving-kindness (metta): far enemy = hatred; near enemy = attachment

2. Compassion (karuna): far enemy = cruelty; near enemy = pity (or “idiot compassion”)

3. Sympathetic Joy / Appreciation (mudita): far enemy = envy; near enemy = hypocrisy, insincerity, comparison

4. Equanimity (upekkha): far enemy = anxiety, greed; near enemy = indifference

While the “far enemies” are pretty easy to spot, it’s the “near enemies” that can be tricky ….

– Machig (http://buddhism.about.com/b/2011/07/21/idiot-compassion.htm)