News from around the world paints a picture of widespread misery, caused by violence, poverty, and disasters. But the suffering of millions of people does not generate the response one would expect. A steady stream of news reports of unhappy events has seemingly dulled the senses of people, with the result that what used to be shocking earlier is now considered routine as long as it does not directly affect oneself or one’s loved ones. Even when something does catch the attention of people and manages to elicit their concern, it is soon brushed aside by their more immediate or important priorities. Someone entangled in their own desires, responsibilities, and problems can hardly be expected to spare a thought for others.
This kind of an individual attitude towards those in misery has fuelled a global trend towards angrier and more divisive politics, in which ‘others’ are blamed for problems, and fear and scapegoating are used to offer simplistic—and often false—solutions to complex issues.
Such apathy, selfishness and disregard for others stems from ignorance of the spiritual ties that link all of us together in the human family. We are, first and foremost, spiritual beings, or souls, and the children of one father, the Supreme Soul. A person born into poverty, or another religion, or a different race, is no less a human being than we are. We all have similar hopes and aspirations, and want to live a peaceful and happy life. But we forget this basic truth and identify each other by labels of gender, nationality, race, etc. This fosters feelings of ‘us’ and ‘them’, which stops us from feeling the pain of others and helping them.
But one might ask, what can an individual do for all the people across the world who are in misery? The spiritual bonds that connect us to others are subtle, and so is the service each one of us can render to our less fortunate brothers and sisters. We may not be able to offer others material or legal assistance, but one thing that all of us, rich or poor, young or old, can do is to have good wishes and compassionate feelings for others. Thoughts and feelings create vibrations, which build a corresponding atmosphere. When a sizeable number of people have a certain kind of thought, the power of their vibrations begins to influence the thinking of others, and this initiates change.
It is the duty of all of us who are fortunate not to have experienced the afflictions being suffered by a large part of humanity, to do all we can to reduce pain and sorrow in the world. If we are content in our personal comforts and wilfully ignore what others are going through, we would be failing in our duty as members of the global human family.
Being benevolent is a subtle but powerful way of serving others. To someone who is in sorrow, just knowing that somebody is aware of their suffering and cares about them, is a solace. Having compassionate feelings does not cost anything, and even those who are sick and infirm can be kind, as it does not require physical effort. All that is needed is a caring heart and the wish to be of help to one’s fellow beings. Such thoughts and feelings eventually generate ideas and actions that alleviate the suffering of others.
B.K. Usha is a Rajyoga teacher at the Brahma Kumaris headquarters in Abu Road, Rajasthan.