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Articles: Devotion | Love & Compassion - The foundation of dharma
- shalini k
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I have picked-up the following article from net somewhere and thought of sharing with telugupeople. This is what my mind and my heart says too. Truth is not the true essence of life, love is.
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Love is the essence of evolution because hate and violence that follow in its wake can put a stop to the very process of evolution.
Love is the essence of religion too, for it is religion (not organised religion) that teaches ethics and compassion.
The story goes that once the Devil and his close friend went for a walk. The devil picked up something from the ground and put it in his pocket. When he was asked by his friend what he had picked up, he said: 'I have picked up the Truth'.
The friend said: 'If you picked up the Truth, then your time is up because Truth is the opposite of what you symbolise'. The devil smiled and said, 'Don't worry my friend, I will organise it'. You know what I mean?
Of course, organisation is necessary but we should see that the core is not corroded by the trappings. The evolved human being is not judged by the number of cars he owns or his bank balance. He is judged by his capacity to understand and love; by his compassionate nature and strong desire for peace — all hallmarks of an evolved being.
The ancient Vedic prayer Sarve Bhavantu Sukhina says, 'May the whole world be happy'. Clearly, love is the essence of life. Love is a many-splendoured entity. Physical love or spiritual love has the same source, although it manifests at different degrees. Love and compassion are pure unadulterated love, that give out of its fullness, and is the essence of all religion.
The compassion and love of all humanity of the Buddha is well-known. Love is the parent of ahimsa or non-violence. It is love that shares, cares and gives. It is the foundation of dharma. The Sufis call love mohabbat. Love which is slowly sublimated is divine love. The sufi mystic Jalaluddin Rumi's poetry of love, The Maznavi, reflects this mohabbat.
In fact, the Qur'an starts by saying 'Bismillah-ir-Rehman-ir-Rahim' which means 'In the name of God, the Compassionate'. Compassion is the highest manifestation of love. When the great Teacher of Galilee, Jesus Christ, was crucified, it is said that Peter the Apostle reached for the sword, only to be reprimanded by his master — 'Put down thy sword, Peter, for he who raises the sword shall perish by it'.
In the Gita, Krishna says to Arjuna, 'The first and foremost qualification of a religious person is Sarva bhuta hite ratah — he should have love and concern for all living beings in the universe'.
Sowing the seeds of love in our hearts is the only solution to the problems of the world. Great literature, sublime poetry, exquisite works of art have all been inspired by love and compassion. It is unselfish love for humanity which is the culmination and the highest point to which love can soar to.
When that happens, one lives for the good of others. The highest evolutionary attainment is the experience of love for all human beings. And if we claim to be religious and neglect this aspect we are religious only in name.
Ramakrishna Paramahamsa felt so much love and compassion for others that he would experience excruciating pain whenever he felt another's sorrow. To love and serve those in sorrow and pain, he declared, was the best way to serve God.
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