Capt Purushottam Sharma
Compassion is treating all living beings with kindness and consideration. It is refraining from infliction of sufferings on others. In other words, our actions and deeds directed towards mitigation of sufferings of others is compassion. It implies the ideal of Ahimsa (Non-violence). Non-violence means to give up hatred. “Ahimsa Parmo Dharma’’ (Non-violence is greatest of religions). Lord Budha propounded non-violence as panacea for all sufferings of the mankind. The ideal of non-violence impressed so deeply Emperor Ashoka that he embraced Budhism, renounced violence for ever and preached, implemented and spread far and wide what Lord Budha had stood for.
“Daya Dharam AKa Mool Hai Paap Mool Abhiman
Tulsi Daya Na Chharian Jab Lagi Ghat Mein Pran’’
‘Compassion is the root of religion. Ego is the root of sin. The virtue of compassion should not be abandoned so long as we breathe.
Carrying no malice against any living being either through action or thought or speech has been accepted as eternal religion (‘Sanatan Dharma’) since the times it was conceived as such. Therefore, a practicant has to possess the virtue of non-violence if he has to be truly religious.
Non-violence and Truth were Gandhi Ji’s nature. He lived for these ideals. Our present has to be founded on them and these will have to determine our future too, not only of India but the humanity at large which is one family headed by the same Father with no physical, mental, intellectual and spiritual differences. Gandhi Ji endeavored to bring entente through love, non-violence and truth and looked forward to working of this mechanism for the unity and welfare of the mankind that would alone ensure an ideal society free from violence and narrow outlook.
“Daya Garibi Navni Bhakti Ka Mool Hai
Itna Gun Na Hoye Baas Bin Phool Hai
Bada Bhava Kis Kam Kare Ahnakar Hai
Arey Han Paltoo Meeth Koop Jal Peev Samundar Khar Hai’’
‘Compassion, material paucities and humility are the requisites of Devotion. In the absence of these, a devotee is like a flower without fragrance. Possession of weath, power, position, name and fame by the egoistic is of no use to others. The well may be small in size its water is sweet that quenches the thirst of who so ever drinks it. Whereas an ocean although immense in size contains saline water that is not drinkable.’
In our ‘Aarti’, the most popular prayer, we call God-
“Tum Karuna Ke Sagar Tum Palan Karta
Main Moorakh Khal Kaami Kripa Karo Bharta’’.
You are the ocean of compassion who rears me. I am crooked, wicked and lustful. I seek Your forgiveness. Oh Lord! Here although we glorify God for his Compassion and magnanimity, we do not open our own chamber of Compassion thus fail to put into practice what we pray for ourselves. If we seek God’s Compassion for ourselves, then we ought to show Compassion to all who deserve it from us our aged infirm, sick, destitute, orphans, animals, birds and other creatures.
Aged infirm in their evening of life are our own Papas, Mamas, kiths and kin. They not only deserve but stand entitled to our Compassion, care and consideration because we owe everything to them. By being dutiful to them, we pave way for similar treatment for ourselves and set a pattern what our following generations should emulate for the ultimate good. The sick and disabled destitute often seen begging around us make precarious living. Their taking shelter on the foot-paths under the open sky or in jhuggis of waste material, eating what spare is thrown by others and wearing what others have already worn and thrown away move the onlookers. A mere look in the eyes of such people tells the woeful tales of their sufferings in the vagaries of weather which plays havoc to them. They too deserve our Compassion being part of our society. Through the gesture of compassion we can make them comfortable as some of us have lot of spares and surpluses to part with for such unfortunates. With sincere efforts of the society, they too can be made to live dignified life and converted into useful citizens. Children are the most sacred human beings whom great men like Gandhi Ji and Nehru Ji loved very much. Childhood is ‘kingdom’ it is said but we are robbing the children of their so called ‘kingdom’ by engaging them for refuge collection, domestic works and other numerous mental jobs thus killing their mental faculties instead of educating and making them useful citizens of tomorrow by manifesting their talents. Such a raw deal to the children has wide-spread evil effects which have to be shared by everyone, in present and in future too. They not only need our Compassion but sincere efforts to promote their welfare to have them a full life.
From times immemorial, animals and birds have been our most faithful and trusted companions. Day and night they help us in every field of activity and most of them are our bread-winners. In fact we are deeply indebted to them yet we do not display compassion towards them. We often see merciless beating of horses driven to overloaded carts. So is the case with donkeys, bulls, camels and other animals. Would it not be in the fitness of things if we too reciprocate by showing compassion towards animals and birds and repay atleast something in return for the good they do to us ?
All creation is sacred which naturally includes animals, birds and creatures. We worship cows, bulls, serpents and feed crows, sparrows and ants. In our mythology, animals and birds are said to be the vehicles of the Gods and Goddesses. Lord Shiva’s carrier is Bull, Ganapati’s vehicle is mouse, Kartikey’s ‘vahan’ is peacock (which is our national bird also), Bhairava’s carrier Dog and Rati’s vehicle is swan. If animals and birds are the nears and dears of Gods and Goddesses, why should we not shower compassion on them.
Don’t we incur displeasure of Gods and Goddesses by denying compassion to animals and birds? We do indeed. Not to speak of strict enforcement of laws in vogue on poaching and cruelty to animals, it is a pity even the method of stunning the animals and birds is not being resorted to in our country which can lessen pains to some extent before their killing.
“Par Hith Saris Dharam Nahin Bhai
Par Peeda Sam Nahin Agh Bhai’’
(Goswami Tulsi Das Ji)
‘There is no religion greater than endowing good for the well-being of others and there is no sin greater than causing pain to others’.
Therefore, we should be humanitarian, show compassion to all, please ourselves and please Gods and Goddesses.
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