When we practice – not just feel – compassion, when we go out of ourselves to reach out to others and alleviate their suffering, we rise to Highest Self in us
Here is a very simple and brief exercise – a meditation on virtue of compassion which is the crown of all virtues. This exercise is so simple and so easy, that you can practice it daily, in sessions of 5 – 10 minutes. Read the following carefully; and you will be able to follow it without any hitches. If you like, you can have soft, soothing instrumental music as a background for this session.
Step 1: Sit in a relaxed posture. As far as possible, the back, the neck and the head should be in a straight line. In the beginning you may find it difficult to bring them all in a straight line, but do it as far as possible. Above all, be relaxed. Relax your body, relax your muscles and relax your limbs. Make sure you are seated comfortably and focused inward.
Breathe in deeply. Breathe out deeply. Empty the mind of all thoughts. Focus on the stillness, silence within.
Step 2: As you inhale deeply, feel the oneness of the self with the created universe. As you exhale, feel the universe sustaining you, supporting you in loving care. You are a part of the Cosmic Whole, even as all the creatures that breathe the breath of life are! Feel your Oneness with all Creation.
As you begin to realize your oneness with all that is, all men, all creatures, all things, become aware that you are not apart from others. The others and you are parts of the one great whole. You are in every man, in every woman, in every child. You are in every unit of life, in every bird and animal, in every fowl and fish, in every insect, in every shrub, in every plant. You are at one with universe. As you become aware of this oneness of all creation, you find you heart filled with loving kindness and a spirit of kinship and compassion with all things, all beings in this vast and wonderful world. Exult in this Oneness. Focus on this oneness as you inhale and exhale deeply, slowly.
Who are our brothers? Our brothers and sisters are all those who suffer and are in need of help – men, women, birds and animals. We must become channels of God’s mercy, help and healing, so that His love may flow out to them through us and our actions
Step 3: Realise that the Divine is manifested in every living being. The greatest form of compassion can only come by understanding this central concept of Vedanta – namely, that all life is one. The life that sleeps in stones and minerals, the life that dreams in plants and trees, the life that stirs in animals and birds is the same life that awakes and breathes in man. And this life is the very spark of the Life Universal.
It is compassion that takes us closest to the Divine within each one of us. When we practice – not just feel – compassion, when we go out of ourselves to reach out to others and alleviate their suffering, we rise to Highest Self in us.
Need I say that at such times, negative feelings of strife and disharmony are totally nullified in our hearts and minds? And when more and more we practice the Divine quality of compassion, will our world not move towards lasting peace?
The world is garden of God. God is in all that is – men and women, bird and animals, fish and fowl, worms and insects, in trees and flowers, in rivers and rocks, in stones and stars, and in the heart that whispers, “Krishna! Krishna.” Krishna is in all – and we all are in Krishna! When we have the vision in One-in-all and All-in-one, we will grow in the spirit of loving compassion for all creation! We will involve in the awareness of the brotherhood of all living beings.
And who are our brothers? Our brothers and sisters are all those who suffer and are in need of help – men, women, birds and animals. We must become channels of God’s mercy, help and healing, so that His love may flow out to them through us and our actions. When we become instruments of God’s love, there is no limit to what we can accomplish. In God’s divine plan, we can become the sanctuary of the weary and heavy – laden; we can, with our efforts, become a source of sweet, refreshing waters in the wilderness that is this world.
You are at one with the universe. As you become aware of this oneness of all creation, you find your heart filled with loving kindness and a spirit of kinship and compassion with all things, all beings in this vast and wonderful world. You are in them all. It is only when they are happy that you can be happy. Therefore resolve that you will never, knowingly inflict pain or cruelty on any living creature. Let this be your constant prayer: May all, all living creatures be free from disease, sorrow, pain and suffering.
The Final Step: Open your eyes gently and feel loving compassion infusing your body, mind, heart and soul.
As you get up from this meditation, you will find that you yourself are happy and full of peace and bliss!
By DaDa J. P. VaSWaNI
