compassion

chanakyakripa

Once upon atime a young disciple came to his master and asked him “Master, what iscompassion?”

Master tookhim to the window and asked him to look at the beggar sitting at the corner ofthe street. While looking at him for some time they saw an old lady passed bythe beggar and gave him a gold coin. Little later a merchant passed by and gavehim five gold coins. Then a boy passed by and he gave a flower to that beggar.

Now theMaster questioned the disciple, “which one of all these do you think has showncompassion in the best way?”

Youngdisciple replied, Master, it was the merchant”.

Mastersmiled and explained, “You see, that old lady passed by was infuriated by hispoverty and his begging in the street and she gave him a gold coin. That oldlady acted out of pity towards that beggar.”

Mastercontinued, “after that we saw a merchant noticed a small group of people whowere praising & talking high of him and that is the reason he gave 5 goldcoins to the beggar and left quickly. Merchant acted out of pride. He wanted toshow off his wealth to those people and advertise that he has a large heart tohelp others”.

Mastersmiled and continued, “ later we saw a boy who had collected some flowers inhis hands for his mother and when he passed by that beggar he smiled at him andgave him a flower. Don’t you think this little boy is the one who acted out ofcompassion?”