Let us take Daya. Daya is not Kripa (pity) in Hinduism. One does not feel sorry for the sufferer, because that is blotted by condescension. Daya is compassion which means recognizing one’s own and another’s suffering, in order to alleviate that suffering. Daya is the basis for Ahimsa, a core virtue in the practice of Dharma. It means non-injury and is compassion in action. This action helps prevent suffering in all living things as well as helping beings overcome suffering and move closer to liberation.

Daya is also a name attributed to Devi, as chanted by the Vedas in their hymns. Daya Ardra Hrdaya, is whose heart is soaked with Daya (compassion) and is addressed to the glorious goddess, Sundari. She is blazing with an utmost tenacity steeped in joy, and consequently beaming with light that radiates and shimmers. She is benign and gracious in her all-encompassing presence.

Daya is to be practiced when one desires Mukti (liberation) according to the Ashtavakra Gita. Astavakra says that if one is seeking liberation, one must ignore the sense objects and observe Daya, contentment, truthfulness, sincerity and tolerance. One is neither earth, water, fire, air, or ether. For liberation know oneself as consisting of consciousness, the witness of these elements. If one only remains resting in consciousness, seeing oneself as separate from the body, then even now one will become happy, peaceful and gradually free from the karmic bonds.

Dear ones, understand the meaning of Daya and embrace it in your life.

Aim Hrim Klim

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