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
“Every religion preaches these 5 immaculate principles. Non-Violence, Truth, Non-stealing, Non Possessiveness, Celibacy.”
2) Pushpamala Grant
Just like nothing is more sprawling than the sky, No religion is above non violence.
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
3) Quran Shariff
4) Quran Shariff
To kill animals and destroy farm yield, Is like spreading dirt in the soil, And Allah doesn’t like dirt.
5) Hajrat Mohammad Paygambar
6) Hajrat Mohammad Paygambar
7) Quran Shariff
8) Hajrat Mohammad Paygambar
9) Quran Shariff
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
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
Hinduism
- Yogshastra Granth
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.
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
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
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
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
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
In Demi-Gods, animals and humans, The males are Hari, The females are Goddess Lakshmi. Except for these two there is nothing.
12) Padmapurana Granth
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
The one who burns cows, forests, villages or towns, Gets the curse of Bhramhatya (murdering a Guru).
15) Itihas Purana
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
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
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.
18) Bhramand Purana Granth
Non-violence is the gateway to righteousness Is what is said by the great learned people.
19) Skandhpurana Granth
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
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
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
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
As many cells in there are in the body of an animal, Those many deaths dies the killer of that animal.
24) Manusmriti Granth
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.
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.
Christianity
- Bible
Great Indian Saints
Sant Tulsidas
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
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
Sant Kabir
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.
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.
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!