Compassion, the need of our times

 

Compassion, the need of our times

 News from around the world paints a picture of increasing violence, misery and suffering. More than 65 million people have been forcibly displaced worldwide because of conflict or persecution, which a record number. There are also 10 million stateless people who are denied a nationality and basic rights.

       Besides, in various part of the world, governments and armed groups are abusing human rights in a multitude of ways, while authorities are viciously cracking down on dissenting voice, and hate speech is rising.

       But the suffering caused by all these developments is not generating the response one would expect. The steady stream of reports of unhappy events has dulled the senses of many people, with the result that what used to be shocking earlier is now considered routine as long as it does not directly affect oneself or one’s loved ones. Even when something does catch the attention of people and mangoes to elicit their concern, it is soon brushed aside by their more immediate and important priorities. Someone entangled in their won desires, responsibilities, pressures and problems can hardly spare thoughts for theirs.

       This kind of an individual attitude towards those in misery has taken the shape of a global trend towards angrier and more divisive politics, in which ‘others’ are blamed for problems, and fear and scapegoating are used to offer simplistic and false solutions to complex issues. In fact, in a troubling development, governments are now promising their people security and prosperity in return for surrender of rights and freedoms.

       Behind the apathy, selfishness and cruel disregard for others lies ignorance of the spiritual ties that link all people in this world to form the human family. Before anything else, we are spiritual beings, or souls, and the children of one father, the Supreme soul. A person born into poverty or another religion is no less a human being than we are. We all have similar hopes and aspirations, and want to live a peaceful and happy life. But we forget this basic truth and identify each other by labels of gender, nationality, race etc. This fosters feelings of ‘us’ and them, and prevents us from feeling the pain of others and helping them.

              But, one might ask what can an individual do for the millions of people who are in sorrow? Just as the spiritual bonds that connect all of us together are subtle, the service each one of us can render to our less fortunate brothers and sisters is subtle. It does not have to be material or legal assistance, which may be short-lived. Something that all of us, rich or poor young or old, can do is to have good wishes and compassionate feelings for them. Thoughts and feelings create vibrations, which build a corresponding atmosphere. When a sizable number of people have certain kind of thoughts, the power of their vibrations beings to influence the thinking of others, and thus initiates change.

              To someone who is in sorrow, just knowing that somebody knows about their plight and cares for them, is a great solace. It is a subtle but very powerful way of serving others. It costs nothing and even those who are sick and infirm can do it, as it does not require any physical effort. All that is needed is a caring heart and the desire to be of help to one’s fellow humans it is the duty of all of us who are fortunate not be have experienced the afflictions being suffered by a large part of humanity to do all that   we can to reduce pain and sorrow in the world. If we are just content to be happy and willfully ignore what others are going through, we would be failing in our duty as members of the global human family.