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What is Compassion? Compassion means
a deep feeling of sympathy/pity for the suffering of others and a desire
to help them. Compassion is a real human touch. Bhagavad-Gita refers to
compassion as one of divine qualities of the sane persons. Without
compassion there is no real peace. It has a soothing effect on
us.
Lord Krishna was really very compassionate towards His devotees
like the Pandavas, Drapaudi, Gopis, cowherd friends, others and future
mankind. Other personalities like Lord Rama, Lord Buddha, Jesus Christ,
Zoroaster, Lord Chaitanya, Guru Nanak are also filled with sympathy for
the manking and lay down their principles for their followers.
Compassion to relieve people from the cycle of birth and death or
to bring them closer to the Supreme Lord is spiritual whereas compassion
to solve the physical and material problems of the persons without
spiritual touch is material. The former pleases the Lord more whereas
general people are more inclined towards the latter. Some people say that
at present times there is progress in science and technology but there is
decline in compassion. Of course, it is difficult to acquire compassion
but by constant practice or the Lord's mercy, it is possible to get it.
My request to you is to develop a sense of compassion.
Kinds of Actions Lord Krishna`s dear devotee Arjuna was
confused about his action before the Mahabharata war began. The Lord
explained to him about three kinds of action - karma, vikarma and akarma.
He says, " The intricacies of action are very diffiicult to
understand. Therefore one should know properly karma, vikarma and akarma."
(Bhagavad-Gita 4.17)
`Karma' means material
action performed in regard to developing one's position or for future
results which produce karmic reactions. Karma also means material action
performed according to scriptural regulations. Through this karma one has
to undergo birth and death in the material universe.
`Vikarma'
means action which is performed against the injunctions of revealed
scriptures and which produce uncomfortable reactions. Vikarma is dangerous
because through it one has chance to sink into the hell after death and
suffer horrible reactions.
`Akarma' means action which helps one
gain freedom from material bondage and attain Godhead. In order words,
akarma means no reaction to work. Shri Krishna says, "One who executes his
duties according to My injunctions and who follows this teaching
faithfully, without envy, becomes free from the bondage of fruitive
bondage." (Bhagavad Gita 3.3). Of all actions akarma is the safest way for
one because one is able of get released from karmic reactions experienced
in this world, and to go back to the spiritual world from which he/she
will not return to this material world. If one is determined to peform
akarma, one is able to overcome the obstacles in akarma gradually. But it
has to be performed under the guidance of spiritual authorities. One's
peformance of akarma burns up all kinds of reaction to work.
After
Arjuna's confusion was cleared, Arjuna converted karma into akarma by
surrendering to Lord Krishna
Duty of
Fighting Lord Krishna drew the chariot between Pandavas and
Kauravas to enable His devotee Arjuna to have a view of who sided with his
enemies Kauravas though Kauravas were his cousins. He was so upset to see
grandfather Bhishma, teacher Dronacharya and others who were prepared to
attach him. Though being a warrior was his inborn duty, Arjuna told his
charioteer Krishna that he wanted to give up the duty of fighting against
the enemies. But Lord Krishna rebuked him for letting the enemies to
overcome him and this was against dharma because his enemy Duryothana, the
elder Kaurava brother who unfairly usurped the kingdom which was
rightfully the elder Pandava brother Yudhishthira's had no respect for
dharma laid down by Lord Krishna. So by His discourse He encouraged Arjuna
to be a worthy fighter and defeat the enemies.
Arjuna thought his
ahimsa (non-violence) which was the only way would please Krishna rejected
his so-called ahimsa as a cowardly act for his enemies, not , Arjuna,
committed violence against the Pandavas and he should resort to
justifiable violence to defeat the aggressors.Bhagavad-Gita had inspired
many Indian soldiers to sacrifice their lives and fight the Pakistani
attackers during Kargil war.
Why did lord Krishna
appeared in the world? There are special three reasons. Firstly,
atrocities committed by the demoniac people forced Lord Krishna to destroy
them. Secondly, He established religious principles so that people both
during His time and in the future could be in harmony with the principles.
Thirdly, He had the pleasure of having His relationship with His devotees.
In Bhagavad-Gita there is the mention of His appearance in the world. The
great Vedic literature Srimad Bhagavatam gives wonderful descriptions of
Krishna's pastimes and teachings.
It is said in Bhagavad-Gita
whoever understands the appearance of Lord Krishna will go back to the
spiritual world after death and will not return to this material world.
Therefore one should not miss the golden opportunities to understand the
importance of His appearance if he/she wishes to go back to Godhead.
Otherwise it may be difficult to seize this opportunity in his life or an
afterlife or even in many births. If one wishes to keep in touch with Lord
Krishna, he/she should read Bhagavad-Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam regularly
or listen about Krishna from His devotees. |
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