VAGDEVI SPIRITUAL PROCESS [#15012] CONVERSATION

As such, we try to post only such articles and thoughts on this site that, according to our understanding, at least, cause no harm to humanity. We believe that ‘causing no harm’ is highly consistent with the Spiritual Process we all go through in our life, knowingly or unknowingly. “Vagdevi Spiritual Process Series” is nothing but an effort to hold relatively more systematic discussions on Spiritual advancement. After introducing the series with three stories and discussing a few things related thereto we thought of narrating the key elements of “Vagdevi Spiritual Process”. Five chapters (from #15008 to #15012) subtitled as ‘Conversation’ were planned. This is the fifth chapter.

We may have more occasions, in the future, to introduce more subtitles for the purposes of classifying the content, but we will not disturb the numbering system of the posts that will always be progressive numbering according to the appearance of the posts under this series.

“Vagdevi Spiritual Process” recognizes ‘selfless service’, but it does not recognize ‘charity’. According to us, ‘charity’ is an activity that, sometimes, is performed by the man owing to the natural quality of ‘compassion’ most of us possess.

By compassion we make others’ misery our own, and so by relieving them, we relieve ourselves also.

(Thomas Browne)

We do not know if the man of the Stone Age possessed the quality of compassion, or he was as instinctive as an animal, for his survival; but we have sufficient proof on the basis of the history of the mankind about which we have some authentic knowledge that quality of compassion is not rare. 

Maybe, its display is much subdued or has become somewhat pretentious due to the circumstances prevailing today, but we can’t say that compassion is a vanishing quality. To make things more clear, let me say that the qualities like courage and simplicity are becoming vanishing qualities, but the compassion is not. Lack of simplicity and the modern man’s submission to his ego, bloated or hurt, make him express the quality of compassion through his activities of extending charities, or doing such or similar activities.

We do make, at least to some extent, the miseries of others’ as our own, but often only till the time the site of misery is within our viewing angle. When we leave the site of misery, the thought of relieving the pain of one in a miserable condition may still persist, but the natural thought of relieving ourselves by relieving the others of their pain is gone. We, then, may give some charity to the needy and consider our job as having been completed.

The thought that we all are parts and participants of the ‘One’ infinite ageless universe must help us in identifying ourselves with others. Their pain must be felt as our own. By relieving the pains of others, we must feel as if our own pains are relieved. This is compassion in its true form. The feeling of compassion when we see others in pain must last; and, if we often see or come to know that others are in pain, the feeling of compassion must settle in our minds forever. Then, the ‘action’ of relieving others of their pain must become a perpetual ‘action’. It should become a ‘duty’ for us that must be performed because we are human beings. It should become‘Nishkam Karma’, an action without desires of the fruits thereof. When we feel satisfied with our activity (of helping others who are in need); we may desire the fruit of our activity in the form of ‘satisfaction that we derive’.

“Vagdevi Spiritual Process” insists that ‘Selfless Service’ must become one’s perpetual duty, one’s Dharma, an inseparable part of one’s existence.  From the lives of those who devoted their lives to selfless service we learn that they, knowingly or unknowingly, had imparted the quality of true compassion in those whose pains they tried to relieve. In simple words, they, through their Nishkam Karma, inspired the beneficiaries or ‘viewers’ of the selfless service to serve selflessly. It means the ‘compassion’ in its truest form is expressed in selfless service that inspires others to serve selflessly.

Apart from the fact that all living beings are partners in the affairs of the universe, on the principle of each delivering according to his ability and each receiving according to his needs; the human beings, by virtue of the fact that they possess superior intelligence than other living beings, have to act more sensibly, have to exercise greater restraint and make more sacrifices than animals, birds and fish etc.. 

The human beings should feel grateful to others, living or dead, for all the support they have received and continue to receive for leading their respective lives. Hence, selfless service is also an act of returning the favours and obligations of others. There cannot be any scope for any pride attached to selfless service. The one who has the ability must serve and the one who is in need should accept the service gratefully. The receiver of the service must reciprocate the gesture of selfless service whenever he finds an opportunity and has the ability to serve others who are in need.

The one who is compassionate does not take pride in giving; he gives considering it as his duty. A man cannot give, only the God can give.

In Process # 15008, we said spirituality is not a state, it is a process.

In Process # 15009, we said right thoughts have little meaning unless followed by the right conduct.

In Process # 15010, we emphasized upon the need for open minded and self-propelled efforts for knowing the realities with humility and honesty.

In Process # 15011, we discussed about the quality of simplicity that was considered to be an important element of the process.

Here, in Process # 15012, we discussed about yet another quality needed for the process, that is, compassion.

[This series is being presented by Promod Kumar Sharma, who has also authored “Mahatma A Scientist of the Intuitively Obvious” and “In Search of Our Wonderful Words”.]