This chapter is the English translation of Gujarati Book
               Title   -  Sadhak and Sathi
               Author  -  Shri Atmanandji (Dr. Soneji)



      CHAPTER - 18

      COMPASSION
      (KARUNA)

      A feeling of self-affliction (suffering) produced in our heart,
      on seeing the various types of miseries and calamities suffered
      by other creatures of the universe is known as compassion.

      In this world, we see that some people suffer from physical
      ailments, some feel pangs of separation from friends and family
      and some are afflicted by other adverse circumstances.  On
      seeing these various creatures suffering from sorrows as a
      result of their previous false actions, the hearts of worthy
      persons are moved with compassion towards them and they try to
      dissipate their sorrows by physical, mental, financial and
      verbal means.

      They try to be helpful to these afflicted souls in overcoming
      their sorrows.  They give food to relieve their sufferings from
      hunger, give financial aid for their basic necessities, heal
      their sorrows by soft, calming and sweet words and assist them
      to be free from physical ailments by distributing the required
      medical aids and arranging the necessary nursing care.

      It is the very nature of worthy persons constantly to make
      efforts to remove the sorrows of human beings, animals and
      insects, being inspired by their inner compassion.  Whereas
      dissipating the sorrows of the great and the noble is indeed the
      highest noble task, even helping ordinary living beings to
      get rid of their suffering is beneficial.

      One can help the poor, the helpless and the afflicted ones, when
      for example, they are trapped in a fire, drowning, suffering
      from starvation or are caught in some other form of acute
      distress.  The greatest unique form of compassion (Karuna)
      reveals itself when one is prepared to help all living beings
      irrespective of case or creed, religion or sect, or any other
      distinction.  This compassion is very helpful to an aspirant
      (Sadhaka) in his spiritual advancement.  This is the common form
      of compassion as known to the world.

      NATURE OF SUPREME SPIRITUAL KARUNA:

      This supreme spiritual Karuna reveals itself only in enlightened
      saints and true monks.  Average worldly people do not know their
      true nature and indulge in various actions leading to bondage.
      Being subjected to the fruition of these actions, they, through
      sheer helplessness, suffer from mental, physical and spiritual
      ailments, birth, old-age and death, diseases, insults and
      cruelty.

      With an utterly compassionate heart, the enlightened saints show
      these distressed people of the world the path of self-knowledge
      and self-restraint, so that they are permanently freed from
      these sufferings.  The world rightly recognizes them by noble
      titles such as emancipators of the world (Jagad-Uddharaka),
      elevators of the low (Adhama-Uddharana), saviors of the drowning
      (Tarana- Tarana), and the like.

      Likewise, these enlightened souls take to the grand heroic
      effort of saving their own self (Atma) from sorrows such as
      birth, decease, old age and death.  They also lead their lives
      so that ignorance, attachment, jealousy and other feelings do
      not arise in life.  This creation of an absence of attachment,
      jealousy and ignorance in one's own self is known as Karuna
      towards one's own Atma (Swa-Karuna).

    GLORY  OF  KARUNA:

      1.  The basis for the spiritual development of the self goes on
          evolving along with the rise of greater and greater Karuna
          in life.

      2.  The spirit of Karuna is an important aspect of an up lifting
          the social structure of all (Sarvodaya).  Two main ideas are
          implied in it.  The first is the feeling of becoming helpful
          to one and all in every possible way.  Once, a person adopts
          this way of life, the feeling of individual ownership of
          things is minimized.  A feeling of voluntary sharing of the
          necessities of life develops.  This will bring an end to the
          disparity caused by the shortages of necessities of life and
          naturally lead to the shaping of a Sarvodaya social
          structure.

      3.  The heart of an aspirant (Sadhaka) feels a severe pain at
          the sorrows of other beings in proportion to his real
          progress on the path of spiritual development.  This
          doctrine is very true that the feeling of Karuna is enhanced
          in life with the real progress in meditation (Bodhi-Samadhi)
          of the Sadhaka. We have several incidences of this doctrine
          exemplified in the lives of saints and Acharyas, who have
          sacrificed the most valued things of their life, to remove
          the sorrows and pains of the smallest beings.


      LIVING EXAMPLES OF KARUNA

                               (1)

      This is an incident from the life of Swami Dayanand Saraswati.
      Once he was going to a city Dadupur from Benaras on foot.  It
      was the rainy day and water had poured all round.  One
      bullock-cart, fully loaded with grass had stuck in the mud.
      People all around were giving instructions to the driver of the
      cart but the cart was going deeper and deeper in the mud.  The
      bulls were panting and saliva was dropping from their mouths.

      The heart of the Swami melted at the suffering of the bulls.  In
      no time, he took hold of the cart, freed the bulls and with his
      strength, in no time he brought the cart out of the mud.  The
      driver and people all round, thanked the Swami.  However, the
      Swami proceeded on his path to Dadupur.