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the fire of jealousy, it ignites the fires of cheating, lying, and hurting others. However, instead of being
jealous of the success or higher virtues of our friends or our spiritual leaders, we should feel content that if not me at least my friends are doing well; that way our unhappiness will turn into happiness. In addition, as soon as such thoughts come in our mind, we may feel silly that we had become jealous. That way the friendship or feeling of admiration would turn the negative impulses into the positive ones and we would be more at peace.
When we consider everyone as our friend, hostility stops, and when we start admiring successes of our friends even a negative force like jealousy would disappear.
03. Karunä Bhävanä (Sense of Compassion)
Swami Dayanand Saraswati once was going on foot, from Banäras to the Dädäpur. It was the rainy season and there were water puddles all around. One bullock-cart, fully loaded with grass, had been stuck in the mud. People all around were giving instructions to the driver of the cart but the cart was going deeper and deeper in the mud. The bulls were breathing heavily and saliva was dropping out of their mouths.
The heart of the Swämi melted at the suffering of the bulls. He immediately took hold of the cart, freed the bulls and with his physical strength, he pulled the cart out of the mud. The driver and people all around thanked the Swämi. This was Karuna Bhävanä towards the bulls by the Swämi.
The feeling of self-affliction and pity produced in our heart upon witnessing suffering of other living beings is known as Karunä (compassion). In this Karunä, we should show compassion to those who are in distress, and to those who are weak, sick and helpless. Since we have accepted everyone as a friend, we cannot just stand aside and let them suffer. We should help them and should offer them support. We should try to help them through their sorrows and agonies. We should make all efforts in these directions. There are two types of compassion, (1) material and (2) spiritual. When we see someone is homeless, poor, and sick, or in need of something, the feeling we get to help is called material compassion. By helping the needy materially, we are able to reduce their material suffering. At the same time, there are people who are ignorant, have wrong beliefs, are suffering from internal passions such as anger, ego, deceit and greed; the feeling to help them is spiritual compassion. We try to show them the right spiritual path to reduce their internal suffering.
04. Mädhyastha Bhāvanā (Neutrality)
About hundred years ago in the state of Orissa, India, a robber named Ramkhan had spread terror. Nobody dared talk about him. People were terror stricken and used to tremble with just a reference to his name. Every one wished to be freed from this terror.
Mahätmä Harnath was a great saint of the area. He gave courage to the frightened people and said, "Well brothers, no sinner is bad, only the sin is bad." With these words, he took the track towards the forest where the terrorizing robber lived.
With an extremely peaceful composure, detached and fearless vision, and the luster of celibacy, the Mahätmä proceeded to the forest. As he reached the place of his residence, the eyes of Ramkhan fell on the Mahätmä and he was immediately impressed. The emotions of the robber, to whom killing was just a game, were transformed. He said, "O great saint! I have committed countless crimes. Now you have come and with you has come the time for my uplift." With these words, he bowed down at the feet of the Mahätmä.
The Mahätmä embraced the robber with love. He showed him the right path. Ramkhan became a monk and led a spiritual life. This shows that even the lowest of the low can get uplifted with neutrality (equanimity).
To have indifference or to stay neutral in an irretrievable situation is Mädhyastha Bhävanä. In Mädhyastha Bhävanä one should stay neutral, uninvolved with those who, even after realizing and knowing what is right and wrong, carry on wrong ways. We can try our best to help, support, or advice; but some, out of their arrogance, obstinacy, stubbornness, or ignorance, may refuse to walk the right
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