While I was listening to stories which our grandfather told us, I thought about one that I could share with the Yoga Life audience. It is about compassion and how yoga teaches us to be compassionate.
Story about compassion
My grandfather’s favorite story was about compassion. He believed that life was a gift. We were all very fortunate to be alive. Since the gift of life was given to all of us freely, we should give back to others with the same passion. This was his way of teaching us about compassion. To him, it meant passionately seeking the good for others. When I asked him what he meant by compassion, he would say with a pat on my back, “Suppose you and another child are seeking the same debating award. Both of you have done equally well. However, it just so happens that the judges give the award to your friend instead of you. How would you feel about your friend winning the award?”
I blurted out:, “I will feel horrible, terrible and jealous!”
With his gentle and affectionate eyes, he would look at me and say in a soft voice, “Instead of feeling horrible, you should try to feel the same happiness that the winning child feels. If you could do that, you would have learned the first lesson in compassion.”
I felt this to be a wonderful lesson. Whatever I wanted for myself, I should want for others as well. Although I didn’t conceptualize it in this way at that age, this was still a dominant theme with him. He would reiterate his belief by saying, “Our life is a gift! Some use this gift better than others, while others have to struggle. Don’t worry about it! If you struggle more, you will not only succeed but understand the pain. When you see someone else struggling, and since you have experienced the pain yourself, you will pitch in to alleviate the other’s suffering.”
He also taught that we should give without any thought of receiving anything in return. This spirit of giving was an investment in a very strong compassionate market. We were here to carry humanity with us through our own deeds. He taught us about this attitude by using simple examples. For instance: “Suppose you are drowning and feeling totally helpless. Just then you see a log floating by. You immediately grab onto it. You are very grateful for this gift. It allows you to go on living. When you see someone else struggling to stay afloat, you should offer your helping hand. It costs very little effort to help others while it amounts to a great deal for the person who is in such a need.” He hoped that one of his grandchildren would be that kind of log — a savior for others of India. This would be in tune with the tradition of yoga, by helping others to swim through the difficulties of life.
I found out in later life that all this wisdom that I was learning from my grandpa was the way the ancient gurus of yoga taught their students. Be compassionate because this life is a journey. You brought nothing with you when you were born and would take nothing when you complete this journey. You came with nothing and everything is going be left behind. Yoga teaches you non-attachment. Enjoy your life lived during this journey and do not get attached to anything. This world is an enchantress. Be enchanted without getting attached to anything. That is an important lesson from yoga that you should follow.
The exercise below is a suggestion only. If done on a regular basis, it might help.
Sit in an easy posture on a mat or in a chair. Keep your back, neck and head straight up. Close your eyes. Breathe in and out for two minutes. Observe the flow of breathing. It will feel good. Now when you breathe in, think about love. When you breathe out, think about compassion. If other ideas come through your mind, recognize them and then go back to breathing in love and breathing out compassion. Do this exercise for five minutes and then stop. Enjoy the relaxed feeling. This exercise can also be done in bed before you fall asleep or when you get up in the morning.