Compassion. Often I have come across
this word, be it in sermons, in ancient scriptures, in NGOs, or in casual
banter. But what is compassion? What does it truly mean to be a compassionate
individual? The guidelines for compassion are dictated by many factors such as
individual personality, religion, culture, language, literature, music, arts,
and many others.
Compassion has been the driving force
behind my passion for social justice. Though it can be frustrating, demanding
if not downright depressing, the need to do right overpowers all other
emotions. I am inspired by Edmund Burke, an Irish statesman, who actively
criticized the British treatment of the American colonies and supported the
American Revolution. His most famous words are:
"The only thing necessary for the
triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."
Doing nothing is the death of
compassion. The pull of despondency and inaction is strong, and yet we must not
give in if our societies are to remain at all compassionate. This is where my
year of service as a Good Shepherd Volunteer (GSV) played a vital role.
My volunteer posting was at Euphrasian
Residence, an in- house facility for girls coming through human trafficking,
gang activity, juvenile prison and the foster care system. On my very first day
on the site, my supervisor assured me that if I could work in Euphrasian, I
could pretty much work anywhere in the world. This was not going to be easy.
Having been denied a foundation of concrete values and a stable childhood, the
young women took a toll on the staff with their emotional outbursts and
disorderly conduct. Sometimes I wondered what I was doing here, and why I was
putting myself through this. While some of my college mates were in graduate
school, an internship or an actual job, here I was waking unruly teenagers up
for school, getting sworn at, and breaking up fights during lunch. This was not
what I imagined my Manhattan 'high life' to be. But isn't that what compassion
is all about? Pushing those boundaries beyond your comfort zone to go where
others don't tread? Yes, it's uncomfortable and challenging, but I became stronger
and resilient because of it. It made me appreciate the true value of compassion
in our lives, especially during infancy and childhood. Compassion builds trust,
something these young women struggled with. For once they trusted me; they
showed a kind of raw love and fierce loyalty which was different and touching.
It was why after my GSV experience, I continued to work with at- risk youth at
The Door, FEGS, and most recently, The Refugee Youth Project.
Being an active advocate for interfaith
dialogue and having committed to similar forums, I am convinced that service compels
us to dive deep into our spirituality and explore what God expects of us. It is
not the mere regurgitation of scripture or ritualistic practices that lift up
our souls. It is only through the deliverance of other living beings, that we
can redeem ourselves. Many have asked why a Hindu girl works so willingly in
Christian- based volunteer missions. The answer is very simple. We will all be
judged not by the earthly labels we impose on one and another, but by the
service we have rendered to this world. That and that alone is where I draw my
faith from. This sentiment was echoed in one of the GSV retreats, where each
volunteer had a private spiritual session with one of the Sisters. When it was
my turn, I was directed to pull out a stone from a bag filled with many colored
stones. The one I picked out had the word 'Faith' inscribed on it. I still
remember the words the Sister said to me:
"Of all the volunteers who came in,
it is unusual that the only non- Christian should receive the Faith stone. You
will draw your courage from your faith. And others will draw their courage from
you."
Those words couldn't have resonated more.
A few years later, I lost my only sister to cancer. It was a period of such
darkness, where sometimes I wondered if there was any light at all. Supporting
my parents and preserving my own inner peace became increasingly turbulent. I
know that if it were not for my strong faith in service and God, my family may
have never bounced back from this tragedy. By enrolling in NGO work in India as
well as practicing mantra meditation and congregational worship, my family was
able to heal themselves. While this may
seem miraculous, the medicine is there in plain sight. There is no greater
medicine than compassion, for in healing others you heal yourself.
I believe that there are different forms
of compassion. Some people are compassionate because the recipient is a loved
one or someone they care deeply about. Some are compassionate about certain
issues because of past experiences or community spirit. And yet, some others
are compassionate because they are inspired by faith and spiritual rewards.
Finally, there are the ones who are compassionate because of a higher calling
that is to love for love's sake only. My
year of service as a Good Shepherd Volunteer allowed me to introspect and
define what compassion meant to me.
During this process I met incredible people from all walks of life, most
of who I still remain connected. By exploring their views and experiences, my
compassion has developed profoundly. Compassion in its loftiest form calls for
complete relinquishing of ego. One can only truly serve when one harbors no judgment,
no fears and no desires. I hope to reach that form one day.
To learn more about service opportunities through Good Shepherd Volunteers, Please click here.
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