Why Devotees Are Becoming Compassionate - To Save a Soul
Compassion is often considered a universal human virtue, but in the material world, it is almost always limited to the physical body. We feel sorry when someone is sick, hungry, or poor. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that true compassion goes much deeper. A devotee of Kṛṣṇa sees that every living entity who has forgotten God is suffering, regardless of their material position. Whether one is a king or a pauper, if one is bound by the laws of karma, they are in a distressed condition. Therefore, the devotee's driving force for becoming compassionate is not just to comfort the body, but to save the soul from the cycle of birth and death.
Vision of the Preacher
The symptom of a Vaiṣṇava is that they are unhappy to see the unhappiness of others. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the general population is "fallen" because they are ignorant of their spiritual identity. A devotee might see a hog eating stool and thinking it is happy, or a wealthy materialist engaged in sense gratification thinking they are happy. In both cases, the devotee feels compassion because they know that this temporary "happiness" is actually a trap leading to future suffering. This vision inspires the devotee to preach.
- Daya means to become compassionate to the fallen, one who has fallen, one who is in distress. So actually, the whole population at the present moment, they're fallen.
- Unless the social leaders, the leaders of the society, they take care of the mass of people to educate them, dina-ganesakau karunaya, if they do not become compassionate to the poor mass of people, who will deliver them?
- When you see a hog is eating stool and lying in filthy place, you become compassionate. But he's thinking that he's very happy. So that is applicable to every one of us. We are not actually in happy condition of life. We are in distressed condition.
Beyond Bodily Sympathy
There is a distinction between sentimental charity and spiritual welfare. Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that while feeding a hungry person is a good sentiment, it does not solve their fundamental problem. Real compassion means awakening the dormant Kṛṣṇa consciousness within the heart. If one only cares for the body, one risks becoming entangled, just as Bharata Mahārāja fell down due to his attachment to a deer. True compassion must be guided by knowledge.
- The feeling which you had by becoming compassionate to the fallen bum is very good, but the best way to deliver a bum is to revive his dormant Krishna Consciousness. If you can do that then give the bums good food and shelter.
- If one does not know of the material sufferings of fallen souls and becomes sympathetic because of bodily comforts, as in the case of Bharata Maharaja, such sympathy or compassion is the cause of one's downfall.
- When the son of Kunti, Arjuna, saw all these different grades of friends and relatives, he became overwhelmed with compassion and spoke thus.
God's Compassion for the Mute
Compassion also extends to the animal kingdom. Śrīla Prabhupāda frequently cites the example of Lord Buddha to illustrate divine compassion. When the killing of animals became excessive and was being justified by false interpretations of the Vedas, the Supreme Lord appeared as Buddha. His specific mission was to stop the violence. This proves that God does not tolerate the unnecessary slaughter of His creatures, and He becomes compassionate towards the innocent.
- At that time (of Buddha's appearance) it became so excessive, pasu-ghatam, animal slaughter, that the Lord became compassionate, and He appeared to stop this. He originated a new set of . . . set-up of religion: No more animal killing. No more.
- He (Lord Buddha) became very compassionate that, "All these poor animals are being killed unnecessarily." So he promulgamated a new type of religion - Don't commit violence. If I pinch your body, you feel pain. You should not pinch others.
- Why He (Krsna) accepted buddha-sarira? Sadaya-hrdaya darsita-pasu-ghatam. He was very much compassionate to see unnecessarily animal slaughter. Krsna, God, is always kind. So when unnecessarily animal slaughter is done, He also becomes compassionate.
Reciprocation of Mercy
Finally, compassion is the means to please the Lord. When a devotee shows mercy to a subordinate—whether a guru to a disciple or a husband to a wife—the Lord is satisfied. Śrīla Prabhupāda gives the example of Kardama Muni, who was moved by the service of his wife, Devahūti, and Nārada Muni, who helped the boy Dhruva. When we become instruments of mercy, we attract the mercy of the Lord upon ourselves.
- Since the Lord is perpetually compassionate towards them, if some of His devotees also become compassionate towards them, He is very pleased with the devotees.
- The sage Maitreya continued: The great personality Narada Muni, upon hearing the words of Dhruva Maharaja, became very compassionate toward him, and in order to show him his causeless mercy, he gave him the following expert advice.
- Kardama Muni became compassionate. "This woman who has come to me is a king's daughter," he thought, "but under my protection she is not receiving any comfort. So I shall give her some comfort." Thus he asked his wife, - What will make you comfortable.
Conclusion
To be a devotee means to have a large heart. It is not enough to save oneself; one must be anxious to save others. This selfless desire to relieve the suffering of the world is the definition of becoming compassionate. As Śrīla Prabhupāda summarizes, if the leaders of society do not become compassionate and educate the masses in spiritual life, there is no hope for their deliverance.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Becoming Compassionate. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.