Today, when all of us are racing against time in a hectic life, there is an urgent need to develop compassion and understanding among fellow human beings.
Think of the number of times we come across news of victims of road accidents being left alone to die on the accident site while we go our way.
We choose to turn our backs on those who need help, although we may be in a position to assist them. We may try to assuage our pricked conscience with apparently valid reasons, but this does not in any way justify our actions or lessen the guilt inside.
No wonder that any act of kindness has become a rarity these days. We must remember Mother Teresa’ s prophetic words, “If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.”
It is compassion which teaches us that. It is a quality which plays a dominant role in doing away with, what can otherwise be termed as our self-centered lives. We must live with compassion, practise it every day till it become san inherent part of our character.
Also, it is not enough to sympathise with the sufferings of others. Stefan Zweig, the famous Austrian writer says in Beware of Pity that pity is an emotion, which instead of helping the object of our pity, can cause great ruin. True, pity, as opposed to compassion, insulates us from the victim.
{{/usCountry}}Also, it is not enough to sympathise with the sufferings of others. Stefan Zweig, the famous Austrian writer says in Beware of Pity that pity is an emotion, which instead of helping the object of our pity, can cause great ruin. True, pity, as opposed to compassion, insulates us from the victim.
{{/usCountry}}Compassion is grounded in a sense of connectedness. A compassionate person always has an overriding desire to alleviate suffering. Practising compassion has the power to turn our lives around, both individually as well as collectively.
(Inner Voice comprises contributions from our readers. The views expressed are personal.)