A Zen Master once gathered his disciples at the Temple of Knowledge. After an intense meditation session, their minds were calm and receptive. Testing their understanding, the Master asked a simple yet profound question: “What do you mean by compassion?”
The answers flowed freely—love, generosity, affection, care, kindness, and liberality.
The Master then narrated a story.
Near the Temple lived a mendicant. One day, an old woman dropped a single coin into his begging bowl. Soon after, a wealthy prince passed by and, noticing the mendicant’s pitiable condition, dropped five gold coins into the bowl, walking away with visible pride. Later, a young monk from the Temple emerged, carrying a few coins meant to buy flowers for a ritual. On seeing the mendicant, he handed over the flowers meant for the Temple ceremony.
The Master asked, “Who among the three was the most compassionate?”
The disciples answered in unison: the prince, for giving five gold coins.
The Zen Master gently shook his head. “The old woman gave out of pity. The prince gave out of pride. But the young monk gave what he himself needed, moved by deep empathy. Without hesitation, he parted with the flowers and brought a smile to the mendicant’s face.”
“Compassion,” the Master concluded, “springs from the fountain of love, while lust is the bedrock of passion.”
Aeons ago lived Prince Siddhartha of the Sakyan republic. Sage Asita foretold King Suddhodhana that Siddhartha would become an emperor—not through warfare, but by donning ochre robes, as compassion was intrinsic to his being. Alarmed, the king surrounded his son with luxury, pleasure, and preparations for war, hoping to divert him from a life of renunciation.
Marriage, parenthood, and power, however, could not cage Siddhartha’s quest for truth. One day, he renounced all material comforts and embarked on a path of deep introspection and tapas. The transformation was arduous. His mind had to transcend sorrow and joy, logic and frenzy, to become pure—imbued with compassion, love, non-violence, and wisdom.
Non-violence became the cornerstone of his inner revolution.
Earth, the only planet known to sustain life, thrives on this delicate balance. Yet human greed and unchecked avarice are degrading the environment, endangering flora, fauna, rivers, seas, and farmlands. Humanity’s loss of compassion threatens to turn creation into a wasteland.
Once, as the Buddha sat in meditation with his followers, an enraged businessman stormed in. Distressed that his family had abandoned luxury for meditation, he spat on the Buddha’s serene face and stormed out.
That night, the businessman found no peace. For the first time, someone he had insulted showed complete equanimity. His conscience trembled.
The next morning, he returned and begged forgiveness. The Buddha calmly replied, “I cannot forgive you.”
The assembly was stunned. The Buddha then said, “The man who spat on me yesterday no longer exists. Why should you carry the burden of guilt? You have done no wrong. Free yourself from repentance.”
True compassion, the Buddha taught, does not humiliate, blame, or induce guilt. Forgiveness is so subtle that the one forgiven may never even realise it.
Compassion arises from love and lenity, while animosity is born of lust and covetousness. Love embraces all—animate and inanimate—while lust often leads to destruction, including one’s own.
As the Dalai Lama beautifully says, “If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.”
About the Author:
Ravi Valluri is Advisor, Krishnapatnam Railway Company Limited. He is the author of fiction and non-fiction works and a faculty member of the Art of Living. His latest book is Sita to Abhaya: Have Things Changed? He can be reached at valluri.ravi@gmail.com or on WhatsApp at 9618564024.