Compassion

It is said, “He who has drops of compassion (karuna) is Human and he who hasn’t is no better than an animal”. Just a few drops are enough to qualify to be human (Nenjil Eeram irundhal manidhan). But our Guru - Swami Sri Gomathi Dos is one who has the Ganges flowing in his heart incessantly. He is ever compassionate.

By taking our place in his heart – we will be cleansed by his karuna. Just like a bath in the Ganges.

He is so filled with compassion that he can fulfill everyone who comes to his fold.

But during our daily interactions with Swamiji, we find that many a time he scolds one among us, he acts irritated and he is angry. Many a time, I have been at the receiving end of his tirade. Does that mean that he shows different Karuna to different people or different Karuna at different times? How are we to take this in our stride?

I can only think that I am blessed to be the object of his scolding. Because he only scolds those who can take it. He only scolds those whom he loves and likes. He only scolds those who will learn from his words. He only scolds those who respect him for his true opinion. More importantly he never scolds without reason.

But isn’t it oxymoronic that he scolds whom he loves?

Well, our Guru is a person, whose Karuna knows no bounds. He can love incessantly. He can love blindly. He can love everybody. But to what effect? What good will come out of loving somebody who doesn’t deserve it? For all we know, such blind love has often gone unrecognized. The receiver neither realizes nor recognizes that he has been loved – that too undeservedly. Therefore it becomes necessary to love those who only deserve it.

Taking this further – Do we deserve his love?

I say no – we don’t deserve an iota of his love. Surprised? Well, that is the truth!

Why, you may ask? Well, because we are not perfect!

So whenever we are with Swamiji, out of his karuna he endeavours to make us better.

Most of us come to Swamiji with a host of problems. If we were to be rid to the problem by the mere sight of him, then we will keep returning to him with the same problem.

Whereas our Guru is such a person that he goes to the root of the problem and remedies it by whatever means required. Resorting to either Sama, Bedha, Dhana, or Dhandam.

It is our naïve rosy wish that whenever we come to him, he will be ever loving and show his unbounded Karuna and bless us that we be relieved of our problem. Believe me, it will be solved. Unfortunately, because we – the imperfect ones – are the root of the problem, we face the same problem again and again we come to Swamiji with the same problem. Does that help you? Has his Karuna really helped you? I would think not.

That is why when he takes recourse to what is the root of the problem and even resorts to Dhana or Dhandam, it doesn’t mean that he is being less compassionate. Or he is not showing his Karuna. Infact it is the opposite. The more he advices, the more he loves you. That his way of showing his Karuna. He cannot show less Karuna, for the Ganges of Karuna in his heart never runs dry. And like the Ganges, he doesn't see distinction of place, time, or person - he cleanses - whoever it is.

If you are at the receiving end of his tirades, you only have to understand it that he is being a Mother. A mother who feeds her child bitter medicines that the child may grow strong. A mother who despises to give bitter medicines, but does it for the betterment of the child. Like that mother, our Guru gives us bitter medicines – albeit reluctantly, but unfortunately, we like a child are adamant and spit it out and make a commotion out of it, even criticizing the medicine.

We as disciples should take that medicine without commotion. In whatever way it is given and follow His instructions to the letter. In that way, we can repay his Karuna by becoming closer to perfection.

Most of the people who come to meet Swamiji, come with Fruits, Betel Leaves, Flowers and a Dakshina. And they expect his Karuna in return. Are they trying to buy his love? Are they trying to bribe him to show his Karuna? Are they buying his Karuna? Well, I don’t think it will work. Unless we really bribe him with real love – he will not give us his Karuna. Our Guru is no astrologer who predicts the future for a fee. He is no soothsayer who tells your fortune for a fee. The only fee our Guru expects is Love. Love of the Divine. Love towards Ma. And She through her unbounded Karuna, through our Guru will bless you with Goodness.