Ten Days Journey Into The Self

Author(s): Chitrabhanu
Publisher: Jain Meditation International Centre

Page 16

Chapter Four - Meditation And The Third Essential Virtue
Compassion
Friends. Let us concentrate on the third virtue which the spiritual aspirant requires, which is compassion Here the Immortal Song says, "May my heart bleed at the sight of the wretched, the cruel, and the poor. And may tears of compassion flow from my eyes." Often we are so involved in ourselves and in our own affairs, that we do not think of the suffering of other people, or of plants and animals. Yet not only a few saints and enlightened persons, but all of us must feel the pain of other living beings and try to help them. Tears are only the starting point of compassion ! I say we must first care, and then care for and then try to change the customs and conditions that give rise to such widespread suffering ! Not only for those who are hurt, but also for the cruel who are causing the pain must we have compassion! The word sin means "missing the mark." Nothing so misses the mark as violence, which is as true for the violent word as for the violent deed. We must care for those whose "missing the mark" is obvious to us and befriend them rather than putting them down. Otherwise we shall be missing the mark ourselves. Once President Lincoln was returning to the White House, riding in his carriage and dressed in his best, when he noticed a small pig by the side of the road, mired in mud. It was squealing and squirming wildly, but all its efforts merely drove it deeper into the mud. Lincoln ordered the coach to stop, got out, and waded into the mire. He tugged and pulled until he managed to free the pig. Upon his arrival home, his family and friends noticed the mud all over his clothes, and while he went to change them, the coachman explained what had happened. When the President reappeared, everyone flocked around him, praising him for his kindness. He told them, "Please save your praises. When I saw this little creature in such distress, it was as if there were a thorn driven into my own heart. And so I plucked it out. Therefore it was really my own pain that leased more than that of the pig." This is compassion ! If we have compassion, in today's world it will lead us to choose a simple life style. We must think constantly of those who not only enjoy none of the fruits of technology, but lack even food for them-selves and their children. Our lack of concern contributes to their material deprivation. Here in this city a friend of mine saw a very old man begging. My friend had the impulse to give the old man something, but found that he had left his money at home. He went up to him and told him, "I am really sorry I cannot give you any money, because I find have left my wallet at home. But I wish to offer you my hand and tell you how much it pains me to see you going hungry here on the street." The old man smiled at him and replied, "Friend, now I do not need food, for I have been fed by your love. You are the first person who has ever spoken to me this way." My friend was glad he had made his small gesture of concern. This illustrates how compassion benefits both giver and receiver. Also, compassion must of course eventually lead us to look for the roots of poverty and racism and violence in power and greed and fear. Why in today's world are two-thirds of the population still starving? Why does such a huge percentage of our time, money, and resources have to go for destruction. Compassion cannot stop with the symptoms, but must seek for the disease and its cure. Each of us must ask himself, "Am I looking