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SpECIAL FEATURE FEBRUARY 25, 2022 | The Indian Eye 14

TOWARDS BETTER LIVING

Wisdom from the life and talks of HH Pramukh Swami Maharaj

“THE EPITOME OF COMPASSION”

The COVID-19 Pandemic will forever be
remembered as a period of isolation, Compassion That Inspires
distancing, and change. Along with longing Pramukh Swami Maharaj practiced what he
to get back to "normal," we hoped for peace preached, touching the hearts of millions
and normalcy around the world. Unfortu- and, more importantly, inspiring people
nately, peace continues to evade many parts even today. The depth and breadth of his
of the world. Daily headlines are peppered selfless love and compassion have survived
with numerous instances of interpersonal, decades and great geographic distance,
community-related and mass scale violence. nurturing a community of believers,
The missing element in these stories is non-believers, and everyone in between. He
always compassion. Without compassion, has created a community of humans who
society devolves into a state of chaos, as live to bring joy to others. These lessons of
evidenced through multiple genocides and compassion, empathy, and love translate
atrocities throughout human history. into everyday life in schools, the workplace,
Compassion is a necessity, not a luxury. and in families and homes.
Without it, humanity cannot survive. Yet, He is the inspiration for young school
the virtue remains elusive. As individualism students raising funds through various
grows, so does the chase for personal campaigns towards blood drives and other
success, pleasure, fame, and fortune. This humanitarian causes. He is the inspiration
personal chase often comes at the cost of for a young boy in Flushing, New York to
selflessness and compassion. same message at the United Nations attack. Instinct teaches us to retaliate – at walk to school every day so that, from the
But compassion still exists. There are lamps Millennium World Peace Summit in the least to protect ourselves. In 2002, the bus fare he saves, he can buy lunch for one
of hope in the overwhelming darkness. summer of 2000 in New York. His remarks BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham in of his less fortunate classmates. He is the
These brave individuals put aside their were applauded by world leaders and Gandhinagar, India, fell victim to a brutal inspiration for a young college-bound
interests to live a life focused on improving religious leaders alike. When asked why this terrorist attack. Two terrorists left 33 dead student to give up his scholarship to
the plight of others. Now more than ever, was remarkable, one spiritual leader said, and over 80 injured. No one could have someone who is less financially fortunate
society needs such role models. "Pramukh Swami Maharaj's life is an even imagined such an incident taking place than he is. He is the inspiration for a young
gynecologist in Bryan, Texas to dedicate
Natural Compassion extraordinary example of love and harmo- at such a blissful and peaceful temple of free office hours for uninsured expecting
God. People in India and around the world
ny. If the entire nation were to take a cue
For some, compassion develops through from him and live by those standards, it were stunned to hear reports that innocent mothers so that they can have access to
time as one matures and sees a more global would solve all of our problems." Indeed, pilgrims and worshippers, as well as brave quality healthcare. He is the inspiration for
vision. For some, it emerges as an outcome the answer to many of the challenges we soldiers, were wounded or worse. In the a professional musician and travel agent in
of a painful experience. For a few, it is face in the world lies in cultivating compas- aftermath, people throughout India were Chino Hills, California to donate all the
in-built. His Holiness Pramukh Swami sion in our lives. hurt and angry. Many were instinctively income he makes as a musician to humani-
Maharaj's compassion was not inspired by a asking for retaliation. tarian and spiritual causes for the past 20
life-changing or tragic incident that Beyond Boundaries years. The list of those inspired by him to
transformed his life. His loving and Pramukh Swami Maharaj dedicated his However, Pramukh Swami Maharaj made a think and act with compassion can go on
genuinely compassionate nature was innate entire life to bettering the lives of every heartfelt public appeal for peace and stabili- and on.
to him. His eyes craved to see every single person he came across. No one was to be ty that echoed around the country and the Inspired by the teaching of Pramukh Swami
person happy, and his heart had space for left behind. Not only was every member of world. His call averted waves of angry mobs Maharaj, BAPS Charities in North America
each soul – even from childhood. His heart society deserving of love, respect, and and prevented countless, needless more provided over 175,000 pieces of PPE,
was the heart that loved every being. This dignity, but they deserved the same level of deaths. donated over $300,000, delivered over
compassion towards all was as natural to compassion. This eye of empathy and Pramukh Swami Maharaj's response has 90,000 meals, and helped administer
him as breathing. generosity extended to those well outside of been studied as an exemplary case by COVID-19 vaccines to over 36,000 people.
In the Joy of Others... his immediate circle of followers, or several international peace-keeping Celebrate Compassion
missions and dubbed as "The Akshardham
community of Hindus and well-wishers.
"In the Joy of others, lies our own. In the This compassion led him to organize a Response." When he first visited the temple Sarve bhavantu sukhinaha, sarve santu
progress of others, rests our own. In the good massive humanitarian effort after the 1979 after the attack, he visited the sites where niraamayaa | Sarve bhadraani pashyantu,
of others, abides our own." Morbi Dam collapse in Gujarat, India. the shootings had occurred. He chanted in maa kashchid dukh bhaag-bhavet ||
These words are not merely a credo or He knew that the most gravely affected prayer for the souls of the deceased. When May all be happy. May all be free from illness.
tagline given by Pramukh Swami Maharaj; members of the community were Muslims the prayers concluded, he asked to go to the May all see what is auspicious. May no one
it was his lifestyle. This mantra also became and Dalits. He wanted to make sure that exact location where the two terrorists had suffer.
the guiding principle for his followers. It was they were cared for in a way that allowed been shot. He added: "Though they
not enough to just tolerate and forgive, to them to follow their own traditions and attacked innocent pilgrims, we must not If these Sanskrit words from the Upani-
merely wish well of others; rather, it was religious practices. So, he came to Morbi allow their hate to overcome our love. Take shads form a prayer of compassion, then
imperative to contribute to their success. and walked through the mud-covered me there. I want to pray for the peace and Pramukh Swami Maharaj was truly the
This was compassion in action, not just streets to distribute supplies and food redemption of their souls as well." epitome of compassion; he not only prayed
sympathy or even empathy. Feeling for grains. True compassion knows no bound- It was not just the "Akshardham Response" but also persevered until his last breath to
others is one thing, but acting is another. aries. Here's a video of the event - that was studied and that inspired many; bring each word of that prayer to life. This
Success, happiness, and spiritual progress https://baps.sl/morbi Pramukh Swami's whole life has been a year, as we celebrate his centennial year,
are only possible through sacrifice, forgive- lesson. These lessons have inspired others may our celebrations of his compassion
ness, and collective advancement. Individu- to imbibe his virtues in their lives. These help to bring more compassion in our lives,
als cannot progress without the collective Compassion Beyond lessons, his spiritual belief, and practices are helping us be more considerate, more kind,
progress and happiness of all members of Comprehension not informational material used for more loving.
- Vivekmurtidas Swami
society. Perhaps the hardest test of compassion is brochures and websites but a transforma- BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha
Pramukh Swami Maharaj delivered this when you are the victim of someone's tional manual to live by.
LEARN MORE ...
This series is dedicated to His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj,
whose centennial in 2022 gives us an occasion to celebrate
the life of a person who will inspire generations towards goodness, happiness, and harmony.

na.BAPS.org/socialmedia

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