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Compassion Cannot Stand Alone
Compassion, I believe, is inexorably linked with Love, Respect and Understanding and the link is so strong that it would be virtually impossible to practice one without the other. My Grandfather, M. K. Gandhi, believed that Love, Respect, Understanding and Compassion are the four pillars on which all religions stand. However, of late we have obscured the foundation of all religions so that instead of promoting the positive principles and attitudes we have used religion to promote hate, wars and killing in the name of God.
Then there is this question: Toward whom should people show compassion? Would it be only toward those who look like us and believe in the Faith we do? Love, respect, understanding and compassion must be universal and unconditional. God loves everyone and makes no distinction between Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus or non-believers. The moment we introduce discrimination in our religion we are opening the door to negativity and that erodes love, respect, understanding and COMPASSION.
By
Arun Gandhi
|
November 11, 2008; 11:55 AM ET
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Posted by: s_j_thaikattil | November 18, 2008 9:50 PM
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As soon as I read about Karen Armstrong's plan for formulating a charter of compassion, I was reminded instantly of the work of Professor Hans Kueng at the Global Ethic Foundation and its comprehensive document accepted at the World Parliament of Religions: Declaration Toward a Global Ethic. (Aside: I had mentioned that document and posted a link to it on this forum over 18 months ago when an atheist blogger, with the username, Acrapist, and I managed to finally agree - it goes without saying we disagreed on every other point all the time - even though God is taken for a completely dispensable entity by all atheists, ethics is not. Since 6 billion people with 6 billion + 1 different ideas of right and wrong cannot not build any kind of international society, there was a need for global ethics in an ever more interdependent world.)
http://www.global-ethic.org/dat-english/index.htm
http://www.global-ethic.org/pdf_decl/Decl_english.pdf
Although the comprehensive document was accepted the World Parliament of Religions fifteen years ago, it would seem that its existence is little known. In my personal opinion there is an urgent need to disseminate that comprehensive document, which has covered every aspect of ethics based on all religions and has been accepted unanimously at the World Parliament. Through the United Nations, it could be distributed to all the religious and secular authorities in all member countries. The religious groups and religious leaders reading this forum could do their part in spreading the good word to their own religious communities.
A new Charter on Compassion should cover new ground, areas that have not been yet covered by the document that already exists, without repeating what has been already accepted by an international body, The World Parliament of Religions.
Compassion is a state of mind and heart which reflects a certain level of consciousness. Unless there are clear instructions for action, those who are not at the same level of consciousness would not automatically act in compassionate ways. The parable of the Good Samaritan by Jesus in answer to the question: who is my neighbor and how should I love him? is a perfect example of how religious leaders taught compassion.
The document prepared by the Global Ethic Institute and adopted by the World Parliament of religions can be used not only by people of all religions but also equally well by atheists.
Soja John Thaikattil
Sydney, Australia