- It is good to have compassion for others. There is, however, a great difference between compassion [daya] and attachment [maya]. Compassion is good; attachment is not good. Maya is love for one’s own near and dear ones – wife, son, brother, sister, brother’s son, sister’s son, father, and mother – love for these. Compassion, however, is love for all beings equally.
- Compassion comes from sattvaguna. Sattvaguna preserves, rajoguna creates, and tamoguna destroys. But Brahman is beyond the three gunas – sattva, rajas and tamas. It is beyond nature.
- Maya binds man. It takes one away from God. Compassion leads one towards Him. Sukadeva and Narada both had compassion.
- Many people think very highly of the physician’s calling. But the profession would be the highest of the high only if a doctor were to treat his patients without charge, only out of compassion for their suffering.
- Compassion and maya are two different things. Maya is like attachment to father, mother, brother, sister, wife and son – love for them. On the other hand, compassion is love for everybody, the same regard for all. When you see compassion in a person, say Vidyasagar, know that it comes from God.
- By compassion a person serves all living beings. Maya also comes from God. He makes people serve their relatives through maya. But then, this is the point – maya makes a person ignorant – it binds. But compassion purifies the mind and gradually frees the person from bondage.
- It’s very good that you give in charity and perform meditation. Whoever has money should give in charity. A miser’s wealth is hidden away, but the wealth of a generous man is saved and spent in good causes.
- Compassion! Charity! What ability do you have to do good to others? A man tries to be so clever and runs here and there [doing so many things], but when he sleeps he doesn’t even know if somebody is urinating in his mouth! Where is his pride, ego and arrogance then?
- If a man of the world gives in charity without expectation of any reward, he does it for his own good, not for the good of others. Lord Hari dwells in all, so it is a way of serving Him. By serving Hari, one serves oneself – it is not by doing good for others. It is service to Lord Hari in all creatures – not merely in human beings, but also service to Him in birds and beasts.
- Working like this, without expectation of any reward, brings good to himself. This is known as karma yoga, renunciation of work. It is also a path for God-realization. But it is very difficult – it is not for the age of Kali.
- The man who works unattached in this way shows compassion, gives away in charity, and does good only to himself. It is God who does good to others, brings benefit to others – God who has created the moon and the sun, the father and the mother, fruits and flowers, paddy and creatures.