Burst Fourteen (For Youth):
Sensitivity
“I would regard him the supreme yogi, who has equal vision towards all. He does not divide sorrow as his own and of others. Others’ happiness makes him happy too.” Geeta 6:32
Insecurity makes us seek success, to cover up our sense of inadequacy. Driven by desire to achieve, we problem’. We boast of it as practicality also. We pressurize ourselves to pay attention to a business prospect and to deny attention to a rainbow. These divisions become psychological habits too. We divide nations as ‘most favored’ and ‘worthy of punishment’. We classify neighbors as friends and enemies. We look at even spiritual seekers as ‘belonging to our faith’ and ‘opposed to our interests’.
Let us go slow and take a second look at our values. Let us remember that the color of everybody’s blood is red. The value of a coolie’s life cannot be less than a millionaire’s. Love is precious to one and all. Mere material acquisition cannot make anyone truly happy. Let us recognize universal laws of our inner life that apply equally to Blacks and Whites, Muslims and Hindus, women and men.
On the practical front, let us admit logistical limitations. We agree we cannot feed all the starving stomachs or bring relief to everyone suffering psychologically. A great beginning however is made when we feel for the hungry man – no matter who he is, and sympathize with the sorrowful lady – no matter what she is. There is then sensitivity.
Note: The above is in a new format, to make for easy flow of reading. The points 1 through 11 are based on Bhagavad Geeta stanzas and their verse numbers are given below.
(1)18:48 (2) 2:38 (3) 11:55 (4) 3:19 (5) 5:3 (6) 16:24 (7) 15:7 (8) 9:22 (9) 8:7 (10) 12:7 and (11) 18:62.
Swami Chidananda
Monday, July 07, 2003