Life lessons from the Scriptures
Since I am in home quarantine, enforced by the state as a preventative measure, I am watching re-runs of some TV programs based upon the great Indian epics, mythology and scriptures. Besides enjoying the beautiful costumes, the dramatization, the visual effects etcetera and brushing up on some pure Hindi language words, stemming from the mother language Sanskrit, the lessons contained therein are absolutely beautiful and a great refresher on the timeless life principles of living well.
These great epics, which we grew up with, through the narrative and the stories, the characters with all their strengths, foibles and flaws, discuss themes such as, knowledge and ignorance, illumination and darkness, the tension between good and bad, right and wrong, values and priorities, morals, choices and decisions, standards of society, cultural traditions, principles underlying the cycle of human life and creation, the entire gamut of human emotions and behaviour, traditional and cultural norms and practices and conditioning in which human behaviour is rooted and the constant flow of the Karmic cycle, of how our thoughts, actions and behaviours come back full force when they mature.
One of the lessons which really hit home yesterday while watching an episode of the Mahabharata, was when Lord Krishna is having a discussion with his elder brother Balram, about compassion as being the vital life giving and sustaining lymph, stemming from the roots of the Tree of Life.
While the great rules we live by, our promises and pledges, our words, are like strong branches of integrity, righteousness and steadfastness, while we do everything to uphold and maintain the integrity of our words, in the face of another creature’s pain and suffering, all our good and righteousness falls short, if and when, we are unable to move out of ourselves and be in service.
Being rigid rule-keepers is a grave non-service to everyone, first of all to ourselves. It is essential to maintain perspective and flexibility, enriched by generosity, kindness and compassion.
The words and promises, the high standards and rules that we so courageously and proudly, respect and defend, are worthless, shallow and selfish, if we are unable to alleviate the sufferings of others. Our pledges have no meaning, if to respect them, we have to turn a blind eye to the plight of others, because we consider ourselves bound by our steadfast oaths.
That Tree of Righteous Living, strong, massive and imposing on the outside, suffers dry rot inside, if not nurtured and watered by living compassion and kindness for the world around us. No amount of knowledge, intelligence, intellectual superiority, fame, name and glory can stand upright when weighed against simple compassion in the face of suffering.
Are you being compassionate today?