Compassion or Karuna is something which we humans are born with. It’s innate. until the world and society conditions us to its customs and ethics. A white child never innately discriminates against a black child, it is what he/she learns by observing the adults around. Same way, put a rabbit and an apple in front of a child and the child will play with the rabbit and eat the apple and not the other way round, but its later in life that he considers it normal to kill and eat a rabbit, because he is conditioned to think the rabbit as food and not someone.
Religion, in human society has given humans two things.
1) A theory on reality of life. eg. Monotheism, polytheism, pantheism, atheism, dualism, etc.
2) A code of conduct revolving around it. eg. permissible and non permissible food items, acceptable social customs etc.
Differences in ideologies and the conduct they preach, has invited criticism throughout history and even does today. People easily spot the differences and criticize other religions for the code of conduct they subscribe to. But seldom do they, or does their religious ego or parochial instructions allow them to spot and acknowledge the commonality between all religions.
The commonality is compassion towards all lifeforms! Presenting what religions through out the world have preached on Karuna.
Jainism
- Adhyatmasar Granth
Ahimsa Satyamsteyam tyago maithunvarjanam.
“Every religion preaches these 5 immaculate principles. Non-Violence, Truth, Non-stealing, Non Possessiveness, Celibacy.”
2) Pushpamala Grant
Ko ya ahimsasamo Dhammo?
Just like nothing is more sprawling than the sky, No religion is above non violence.
Once a forest fire broke out and all the animals rushed inside a cave. which got crowded eventually. An elephant lifted his leg to scratch but when he went to put it down he found a rabbit had occupied that space. To not kill or harm that rabbit by crushing it under his leg, the elephant decided to not put down his leg. The forest fire lasted for 3 days after which every animal left the cave. After the rabbit left, the elephant finally tried resting his foot down but the foot had gotten stiff which led to the elephant thrashing down and die. This act of compassion towards the rabbit led the elephant’s soul to be reborn as Meghkumar and attain great spiritual heights.
3) Aacharang Sutra
All life forms adore their life, not death, Value happiness, not unhappiness Hence Do not harm any life form, nor cause it sadness. As you sow so shall you reap. / The fruits of the actions which one receives are as per the nature of their actions.
4) Aacharang Sutra
Taking others life is in reality taking ones own life. Reverence towards others life is in actuality reverence to our own life.
Islam
- Quran Shariff
“In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful” It is but obvious that if Allah is Merciful then his followers will dwell mercy in their heart too!
2) Hajrat Ali Saheb
In your stomach, you dont
3) Quran Shariff
Because The Almighty doesn’t even wish
the slightest of torture on any life.
4) Quran Shariff
vayahulikal harsa bannasl vallaho la yuhibul fasada
To kill animals and destroy farm yield, Is like spreading dirt in the soil, And Allah doesn’t like dirt.
5) Hajrat Mohammad Paygambar
Whoever does the welfare of his family
Is the most beloved to the Almighty.
6) Hajrat Mohammad Paygambar
Even you be merciful to all on this Earth
Only then the one in Heaven shall be merciful to you.
7) Quran Shariff
Then that person will be considered the slayer of complete humankind
And if one saves the life of even one
Then that person will be considered the savior of entire humankind.
8) Hajrat Mohammad Paygambar
Then will good for others as well.
9) Quran Shariff
vala kia yana luhat takva
Allah Taalah has no interest in your sacrifices of meat and blood. He only is considerate of your will towards him.
10) Hadis Granth
Be merciful towards the life forms of world Because God has been very merciful to you.
11) Quran Shariff
Shapakte banumae khalke khuda
If you always want to stay in heaven, Then be merciful to God’s creation, And act with humility towards it.
12) Imam Al Hafiz Bashir Ahmed Maseri
Then he is bound to give justification to God Almighty for it
And if someone
Is merciful towards the smallest of life forms
And gives that life form the gift of life
Then God bestows His mercy on him/her on the day of judgement.
Hinduism
- Yogshastra Granth
Ahimsayaha falaha sarvam, kimanyat kamdev sa.
Long Life, Attractive look, good health, Appreciation, recognition and fame, all this are the fruits of non-violent life style and compassion. Really Non Violence is a wish fulfilling cow (Kamdhenu).
2) Yajurveda Granth
Refrain from harming even the smallest of micro-organisms, you must.
When Govinda plays His flute, the peacocks, the animals and trees and plants, all stand still and listen to the transcendental sound of the flute with great attention. As soon as the deer hear the playing of the flute, they offer respectful obeisances unto the Lord by looking at Him with great affection.
3) Bhagawad Gita
One who sees all life forms equal to his own life, actually sees.
4) Yajurved Granth
All the life forms of the world, With friendliness we see.
5) Skandapurana Granth
Having compassion towards all life forms, Is the holiest of deeds.
6) Padmapurana Granth
Only that person gets the fruits of pilgrimages Who sees all life forms as equal to ones own self And protects them like his own self.
7) Ishwargeeta Granth
Akleshjananam Prokta, Ahimsa Paramarshibhi.
Through Deeds, thoughts or words Not causing any life form Any harm any time That is what the wisest of Saints call non-violence.
8) Mahabharat Granth
Ekasya Jivitam Dadhyan, Na Cha Tulyam Yudhishthir!.
Oh Yudhishthir! Even if one donates gold equal to the size of an entire Meru Mountain Or donates the entire Earth Still That won’t equate the value of the importance of rescuing a life.
9) Bhagwad Geeta Granth – Shree Krishna
Vanaspatigatshchaaham, Sarvabhutagatopyaham.
Yo Ma Sarvgatam Gyatva, Na Cha Hinsyaat Kadachan.
Tasyaaham Na Pranashyami, Sa Cha Ma Na Pranashyati.
Oh Arjun ! I am the Earth. In the Air, fire, water and even in the vegetation I am present! I am present in all the life forms of the Earth. After understanding this minor truth, whoever refrains from harming and killing any life form. Receives my grace and blessings. I always protect him.
10) Padmapurana Granth
Sarve Dharma Ahimsayam, Pravashanti Tatha Dridham.
The way all rivers finally merge and become one part with the sea, Same way all religions In the end blend into Non-violence.
11) Vishnupurana Granth
Striinamni Lakshmi Maitrey!, Nanyorvdhyate Param.
In Demi-Gods, animals and humans, The males are Hari, The females are Goddess Lakshmi. Except for these two there is nothing.
‘Do‘ means two, and ‘han‘ means udder. ‘Dohan’ means using only two udders of a cow while taking milk from her. The other two udders are solely reserved for the calf.
Calves in most parts of the world are deprived of their mothers milk, just so that humans can consume it. The cows are exploited each year and are milked in excess..
While this is not the case in rural parts of India. In Rural India the housholder only takes the minimum of the milk his/her family needs. The maximum rest is for the calf.
12) Padmapurana Granth
Abhayam Yen Bhutebhyo, Dattam Sarvasukhavaham.
The gift of life gives happiness to all. The one who gives the gift of life to anyone Gets the blessing of Bathing in holy waters of holy places, And benefits of all the sacrifices made in Yagnya.
14) Itihas Purana
Yognim Samutrujen Mudh-Sant Vidhyad Bhramaghatakam.
The one who burns cows, forests, villages or towns, Gets the curse of Bhramhatya (murdering a Guru).
15) Itihas Purana
Putravat Parirakshanti, Te Naraaha Svargagamin.
Even if lice, ticks and insects like mosquito bites, But still the One who protects them like their own relative or son, Goes to Heaven for that deed.
16) Padma Purana Granth
Ye Pushnanti Sada Vaishya!. Te Modante Sada Divam.
The one who nourishes and takes care of the differently abled, blind, children, elderly, diseased, orphan and poor, they remain in supreme bliss in heaven.
17) Itihas Granth
hantumirchbhat Yo Dinaan, Tam Vidaad Brahmaaghyaaatakam..
The ones who will to kill innocents life forms Which graze in the forests get the sin as bad as of killing a Learned Guru.
In Rural India, compassion towards animals is a central tenet such that outside each house one can find a small stone carving where the householders put any vegetable, Roti, fruit for the animals. Then at a specific time the strolling cattle, dogs and bird pass from there and have food from each household.
18) Bhramand Purana Granth
Non-violence is the gateway to righteousness Is what is said by the great learned people.
19) Skandhpurana Granth
Hinsako Narakam Gachbhte Gachbhdhinsak
In the entire world, like violence, There is no other grave sin. The one who is violent goes to hell And The one who is compassionate goes to heaven.
20) Bhramand Purana Granth
Sarve Tirthaabhishekaashch, Yat Kuryaat Praninaam Daya.
The fruits of having reverence to all life forms which one obtains, Those fruits one doesn’t obtain in All the Vedas, All the sacrifices And in having bath in all the holy waters of the holy places.
21) Skandhpurana Granth
Tasmaann Himsa Kartavyaa, Narairnarakbhirubhi.
On this land, “non-violence is the most optimum religion” Is what is said by all the wise men. Hence the one who doesn’t wish to suffer in hell, Should refrain from violence.
22) Bhagwat Granth
Taavdvessharsahasraani, Pachyante Pashughaataka.
As many cells there are in the body of an animal, For those many thousand years, The murderer of animals Has to burn in the kiln of hell.
23) Manusmriti Granth
Vrutha Pashudhanaha Praanoti, Pretya Janmani Janmani.
As many cells in there are in the body of an animal, Those many deaths dies the killer of that animal.
24) Manusmriti Granth
Sharirastyaatyaye Chaiv Sanvikshya Vasundha Charett.
Whether it is day, night or even if one is on their death bed, To protect the life forms, One must always look down on Earth and walk consciously to not harm any life form.
25) Mahabharat Granth
Non-violence is the complete religion.
The armies were taking up positions. The
elephants started marching. Deafening
noise of conch shells warned of imminent
danger. The dust raised was so thick as to
eclipse the sun. A sparrow had built her
nest in a hillock close to the Kurukshetra
battlefield. She was staying there with her
nestlings and was concerned for their safety.
She cried wildly and caught the attention
of Lord Krishna. Out of compassion for
the mother bird and her young ones, Lord
Krishna lifted up an elephant bell that he
found nearby and placed it over the bird’s
nest saying: “This will protect you” . So,
during the eighteen days of the terrific war,
the mother-bird and her little ones remained
fully safe. “One who takes refuge at the lotus
feet of the Lord, will be protected by Him.”
Such was the lesson from Mahabharata war.
Buddhism
1) Majijhamanikay Granth
If you will leave violence, Then you will remain happy.
2) Suttanipat Granth
Don’t harm any life, Don’t kill any life.
Buddha’s love and compassion was so strong and powerful that the elephant could feel it. Just a few steps before it was about to charge into the Buddha, it stopped in its path and calmed down. It then trotted towards Buddha and respectfully bow its head.
Buddha stroked the elephant’s trunk and comforted it with soft & kind words. The elephant was totally tamed.
Christianity
- Bible
Great Indian Saints
Sant Tulsidas
Tum Kisko Mare Nahi, Tune Na Maare Koi.
If you refrain from causing violence onto others, you shall become a sympathizer from an object of sympathy. Then even you wont be harmed.
Maharishi Vyas
Paropkaraha Punyaya Paapaya Parapidanam.
It is the crux of all the 18 Purana’s That Doing good deeds gets us blessings, And doing bad deeds gets us sin.
Sant Tulsidas
Compassion is the root of Righteousness, Ego is the root of sin. Till the time there is life in our body, We should not leave compassion.
Guru Nanak
And consume alcoholic substance.
All the goodness within that person dies.
Sant Kabir
Rati Ek Ghat Me Sannchare, Sahaj Nark Le Jaay.
Meat is the meal of dog. How can human consume that? Even if one tiny morsel of meat enters the stomach, Then it takes one directly to hell.
Sant Kabir.
Jeev Hatya Nahi Bhutati, Karod Gau De Daan.
Don’t kill the poor animals Life as how much we value it, is valued by them as well. Even if one donates a thousand cows, One cannot brush of the stains of killing a life.
One day, a village headman from a village at a distance started from his home on a bullock card to listen to the Swami’s sermons. On the way, the bullocks felt hungry and thirsty, but the headman told the cart driver not to stop the cart lest they are late for the sermon. As soon as they reached the residence of Vallalar, the headman rushed in and bowed to the saint. But, the Swami just got up and went outside the room, surprising everyone because he never got up in the middle of a sermon.
When the Swami did not return after a long time, the assembled people went out to check. They saw that the Swami was feeding the bullocks some water and grass and had tears in his eyes. He was telling the animals, “Because of me, you had to suffer and had to go hungry and thirsty.” When the village headman saw this, he realized his mistake and fell at the Swami’s feet. The Swami’s act of piety and compassion made the headman realize that Bhagavān resides even in animals. Therefore, if we cannot be kind to animals, there is no use of attending spiritual sermons.
Each Religion preaches about compassion towards all life forms, lets pledge to fill our hearts with compassion, preached in the ancient wisdom of the learned and lets pledge to make this world a happy place for ALL. Lets pledge to be kind to all animal creation and not harm them by consuming them.
Small acts of kindness can lead to huge ripples of positive change.
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May peace prevail!