Image by Arvind Balaraman
Compassion means different things to different people. When I think of compassion, one of the things I think of is Hinduism. Although I am not religious, I have always had a fascination with Eastern religions, especially Hinduism. The Hindu idea of compassion, called Daya, is one of the three main Hindu virtues—the others being self control and charity.
The importance of compassion in Hinduism extends back before 1500 B.C., and is displayed in the sacred texts known as the Vedas. One of the interesting things about the presence of compassion in the Vedas is observing how the texts grew over time. In the earlier Vedas, compassion was recommended to be displayed within one’s family. However, in the later Vedas, it is recommended that one shows compassion not only to close loved-ones, but to all of humanity. By extending compassion to every living thing, people support a common understanding that transcends species and race.
This idea of showing compassion and respect for every living thing represents the philosophical foundation of Hinduism, rooted in the idea of the Brahman—or Universal Soul—which is believed to encompass the entirety of existence, threading every living being together as one. This Universal Soul, or Brahman, manifests in an individual as the Atman.
There are many expressions of Daya in the Hindu faith, and many of them are similar to elements of compassion found in Western society. These elements include service, non-harm (ahimsa), charity, grace, and social obligation.
As mentioned above, a Hindu concept that is often interchangeable with Daya is ahimsa—the idea of living in a state of non-harm. While the exact definition of ahimsa varies from one tradition to another, the Sanskrit word is translated as “refraining from harmfulness.” Show kindness and non-violence to all living things, including animals, and ahimsa will be shown to you in return. Ahimsa supports the idea of respecting all living things, as every creature is directly connected.
The following quote on compassion comes from the Tirukkural, an Ancient Hindu Tamil text written by Tiru Valluvar.
“Find and follow the good path and be ruled by compassion.
For if the various ways are examined, compassion will prove the means to liberation. “ – Tirukkural 25: 241-242
Just as compassion may mean something slightly different to every culture and religion, the meaning of compassion differs from person to person. To me, practicing compassion is about viewing things for every angle–not just my own. This is a constant struggle, as it’s easiest to place yourself at the center of things than look at a situation from the view of the other parties involved. Doing so helps me practice kindness and awareness, moderates the ego and helps me connect with others. What does compassion mean to you?
