Children, many great souls have worked tirelessly for world peace, and many are still striving today. Yet, we do not see much change in the world. War, conflict, poverty and starvation exist even today.
Many ask if there is a lasting solution to these problems. The war and conflict that we see in the world today are outer expressions of the inner conflicts raging in human minds. The mind ought to become our obedient servant, but at present, it is lording over and manipulating us.
The hatred, anger and cruelty in human minds are far more lethal than all the explosives in the outer world. If we do not flush out these toxic emotions, war and conflict will continue to prevail in the world. Once, a nightingale was perched on a tree and singing sweetly.
A hunter trapped the bird and wanted to kill it. The bird gazed piteously into the hunter’s eyes and begged, “Please don’t kill me. Let me go!” The nightingale’s heart-breaking plea moved the hunter.
In that moment, he became aware of the stark difference between the nightingale, darting about blissfully and warbling sweetly, and his own heinous and cruel life. He told the nightingale, “I shall release you on one condition: you must tell me the secret of your joy.” The nightingale said, “I’m scared of you.
First, let me go, and then I shall tell you the secret of my joy.” The hunter released the bird. As the nightingale flew away, she said, “It is the evil in you that causes you such pain and misery.
Your heart is completely darkened by cruelty whereas we never hurt anyone. The goodness in our hearts is the reason for our joy.” The nightingale’s words opened the eyes of the hunter.
He forsook the path of cruelty and embarked on a new path in life. Our hearts ought to melt in compassion when we see the pain and misery of others. The compassion in our hearts must be reflected in our actions.
Compassion is the one-word answer to all problems in the world. If we have to provide an answer in two words, they would be love and compassion. The answer in three words would be love, compassion and patience.
War and conflict will end only when individual minds become filled with compassion. Engaging in compassionate actions is verily to live the truths expressed in the Upanishadic statements proclaiming our unity with God: tat tvamasiand ahambrahmasmi—“You are that” and “I am Brahman.” For example, when we poke our eye with our finger, we never punish our finger.
On the contrary, we use the same finger to rub the eye. This is because we know that both the finger and the eye are a part of our own body. In a similar way, when we see others as our True Self, then compassion will spontaneously arise.
Just as we forgive our own mistakes, let us be able to forgive and forget the mistakes of others as well. Let us try to transcend any feelings of anger that we have towards those who have harmed us. Let us try to write kind letters or emails to those who are angry with us.
It may give them some happiness and help them get over their anger. Let us not forget to express gratitude to our near and dear ones. Such actions will bring a real rebirth—a new creation.
The writer is a world-renowned spiritual leader and humanitarian..
