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Daya. Compassion
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<blockquote data-quote="Sikh80" data-source="post: 70201" data-attributes="member: 5290"><p><strong><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Daya </span></strong></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">or <strong>Compassion</strong> is a very important quality that needs to be part of a Sikhs Mind Set and must accompany the Sikh at all times. The other four qualities in the {censored}nal are: <strong>Truth</strong> (</span></span><a href="http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Sat" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Sat</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">), <strong>Contentment</strong> (</span></span><a href="http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Santokh" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Santokh</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">), <strong>Humility</strong> (</span></span><a href="http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Nimrata" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Nimrata</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">) and <strong>Love</strong> (</span></span><a href="http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Pyare" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Pyare</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">). These five qualities are essential to a Sikh and it is their duty to meditate and recite the </span></span><a href="http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Gurbani" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Gurbani</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> so that these virtues become a part of their mind. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">The importance of Daya can be seen from the following </span></span><a href="http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Shabad" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Shabads</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"> from </span></span><a href="http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/SGGS" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">SGGS</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">: </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center"><p style="text-align: center"><p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><strong><span style="color: darkorange"><span style="font-size: 12px">SGGS Page 903</span></span></strong><span style="color: darkorange"><a href="http://www.srigranth.org/servlet/gurbani.gurbani?Action=Page&Param=903&english=t&id=38756#l38756" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #0000ff">Full Shabad</span></u></a></span></span></p> <p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">You have no compassion; the Lord’s Light does not shine in you. </span></span></p> <p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">You are drowned, drowned in worldly entanglements. (4) </span></span></p> </p> </p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">It is clear from the </span></span><a href="http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Shabad" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Shabad</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"> above that if <strong>one does not have Compassion</strong>, then you will <strong>not by blessed by the Lord</strong>. You will not achieve any progress in your spiritual development and you will drown in <strong>Worldly Entanglements</strong> or <strong><a href="http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Maya" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #0000ff">Maya</span></u></a></strong>. It is mandatory to not ignore tragedies that take place in the world but to face them head-on and do whatever is possible within ones means. As a </span></span><a href="http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Sikh" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Sikh</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"> you must <strong>feel</strong> the <strong>pain and suffering of other people</strong> involved in any tragedy. These days, in addition to natural disasters, we have many Man-inspired violence and destruction. Most of this crazy action is the result of peoples lack of understanding and due to a complete loss of compassion for humanity. The Devil runs the mind of these people. Let’s learn from </span></span><a href="http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Gurbani" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Gurbani</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> as only then can we make sense of the world. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">In </span></span><a href="http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Japji" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Japji</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"> sahib, the most important </span></span><a href="http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Bani" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Bani</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"> for the </span></span><a href="http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Sikh" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Sikhs</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">, Maharaj says: </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center"><p style="text-align: center"><p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><strong><span style="color: darkorange"><span style="font-size: 12px">SGGS Page 3</span></span></strong><span style="color: darkorange"><a href="http://www.srigranth.org/servlet/gurbani.gurbani?Action=Page&Param=3&english=t&id=115#l115" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #0000ff">Full Shabad</span></u></a></span></span></p> <p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">The mythical bull is Dharma, the son of compassion; this is what patiently holds the earth in its place. One who understands this becomes truthful. What a great load there is on the bull! </span></span></p> </p> </p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">meaning that </span></span><a href="http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Dharma" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Dharma</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"> or <strong>Religion is the son of Compassion</strong>. Putting it another way: There would be <strong>no religion if there was no compassion</strong>. This highlight how important this quality is and that it is central for religion to function. So make no mistake, and make sure that as a Sikh, this virtue is always in your mind and that you analyse your feelings and actions whenever you seen any injustice or suffering taking place. If your heart is not moved seeing the starving in Africa, or the sufferings of the victims of terrorist bombing, then you have much intra-inspection to do to move forward with </span></span><a href="http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Sikh" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Sikhi</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">. </span></span></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center"><p style="text-align: center"><p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><strong><span style="color: darkorange"><span style="font-size: 12px">SGGS Page 822</span></span></strong><span style="color: darkorange"><a href="http://www.srigranth.org/servlet/gurbani.gurbani?Action=Page&Param=822&english=t&id=35087#l35087" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #0000ff">Full Shabad</span></u></a></span></span></p> <p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Truth, contentment, compassion, Dharmic faith and purity - I have received these from the Teachings of the Saints. </span></span></p> <p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Says Nanak, one who realizes this in his mind, achieves total understanding.(2,4,90) </span></span></p> </p> </p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">If you desire to achieve total understanding, then make sure you practise Truth, contentment, compassion, Dharmic faith and purity at all times. That is the message of the Gurus! </span></span></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center"><p style="text-align: center"></p> </p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">DAYA (usually spelt daia in Punjabi), from </span></span><a href="http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Sanskrit" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Sanskrit</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"> "Day" meaning <strong>to sympathize with, to have pity on, stands for compassion, sympathy</strong>. It means <strong>‘suffering in the suffering of all beings’</strong>. It is deeper and more positive in sentiment than sympathy. Daya, cognitively, observes alien pain; affectively, it gets touched by it and moves with affectional responses for the sufferer; and conatively it moves one to act mercifully, pityingly, with kindness and forgiveness. Daya is antithetical to hinsa (violence). One imbued with daya “chooses to die himself rather than cause others to die,” says </span></span><a href="http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Guru_Nanak" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Guru Nanak</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> (GG, 356). </span></span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><strong>Daya</strong> is a <strong>divine quality</strong> and a moral virtue highly prized in all religious traditions. In the </span></span><a href="http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Sikh_Scripture" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Sikh Scripture</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">, mahadaial (super compassionate), daiapati (lord of compassion), daial dev (merciful god), karima, rahima (the merciful one), etc., have been used as attributive names of God (GG, 249, 991, 1027, 727). In </span></span><a href="http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Sikh" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Sikh</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> ethics, too, daya is inter alia, a basic moral requirement, a moral vow. “Keep your heart content and <strong>cherish compassion for all beings</strong>; this way alone can your holy vow be fulfilled” (GG 299). </span></span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">At the human level, one can comprehend feeling of another’s anguish, but as a theological doctrine it is to risk allowing suffering in God’s life. This has often caused much controversy in theological circles. God does not suffer in the sense of pain from evil as evil, but may suffer compassion (daya) as bearing the pain of others to relieve them (of pain as also of evil). That is why at the time of Babar’s invasion of India, </span></span><a href="http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Guru_Nanak" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Guru Nanak</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">, when he witnessed the suffering of people, complained to God: </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center"><p style="text-align: center"><p style="text-align: center"><span style="color: #ee4000"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Eti mar pai kurlane tain ki dardu na aia </span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align: center"><span style="color: #ee4000"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">So much agony were they put through So much anguish did they suffer— Were you not, O God, moved to compassion? </span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align: center"><strong><span style="color: #ff6600"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">(GG, 360) </span></span></strong></p> </p> </p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">The Guru, in the image of God, is also daial purakh (compassionate being) and bakhasand (forgiver)—GG, 681. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><strong>Daya</strong> is a virtue of the mind. In <a href="http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/India" target="_blank"><u><span style="color: #0000ff">Indian</span></u></a> thought, virtues are classified into (i) those of the body: <a href="http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php?title=Dana&action=edit" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc2200"><u>dana</u></span></a> (charity), paritrana (succouring those in distress), paricharana (social service); (ii) those of speech: satya (veracity), hitovachana (beneficial speech), priyavachana (sweet speech), svadhyaya (reciting of Scriptures) and (iii) those of the mind which, besides daya, also include aparigraha (unworldliness) and sraddha (reverence and piety). </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px">In </span></span><a href="http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Sikh" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: #0000ff">Sikh</span></span></span></u></a><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> thought <strong>daya</strong> is considered the <strong>highest virtue</strong>: </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center"><p style="text-align: center"><p style="text-align: center"><span style="color: #ee4000"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Athsathi tirath sagal punn jia daia parvanu </span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align: center"><span style="color: #ee4000"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">The merit of pilgrimages of holy places sixty-eight, and that of other virtues besides, equal not compassion to living beings. </span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align: center"><strong><span style="color: #ff6600"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">(GG, 136) </span></span></strong></p> </p> </p><p></p><p style="text-align: center"><p style="text-align: center"><p style="text-align: center"><span style="color: #ee4000"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Daya, in fact, is considered to be Truth in action: </span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align: center"><span style="color: #ee4000"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">sachu ta paru janiai ja sikh sachi lei; daia janai jia ki kichhu punnu danu karei Truth dawns when truthful counsel is accepted, Seeking familiarity with compassion one gives away virtuous charity. </span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align: center"><strong><span style="color: #ff6600"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">(GG, 468) </span></span></strong></p> </p> </p><p></p><p style="text-align: center"><p style="text-align: center"><p style="text-align: center"><span style="color: #ee4000"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Daya is, in reality, true action or action par excellence (karni sar) </span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align: center"><span style="color: #ee4000"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">as are truth and contentment, the other two high virtues </span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align: center"><strong><span style="color: #ff6600"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'">(GG, 51) </span></span></strong></p> </p> </p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Sikh80, post: 70201, member: 5290"] [B][FONT=Times New Roman]Daya [/FONT][/B] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]or [B]Compassion[/B] is a very important quality that needs to be part of a Sikhs Mind Set and must accompany the Sikh at all times. The other four qualities in the {censored}nal are: [B]Truth[/B] ([/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Sat"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Sat[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]), [B]Contentment[/B] ([/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Santokh"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Santokh[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]), [B]Humility[/B] ([/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Nimrata"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Nimrata[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]) and [B]Love[/B] ([/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Pyare"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Pyare[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]). These five qualities are essential to a Sikh and it is their duty to meditate and recite the [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Gurbani"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Gurbani[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman] so that these virtues become a part of their mind. [/FONT][/SIZE] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]The importance of Daya can be seen from the following [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Shabad"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Shabads[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] from [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/SGGS"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]SGGS[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman]: [/FONT][/SIZE] [CENTER][CENTER][CENTER][FONT=Times New Roman][B][COLOR=darkorange][SIZE=3]SGGS Page 903[/SIZE][/COLOR][/B][COLOR=darkorange][URL="http://www.srigranth.org/servlet/gurbani.gurbani?Action=Page&Param=903&english=t&id=38756#l38756"][U][COLOR=#0000ff]Full Shabad[/COLOR][/U][/URL][/COLOR][/FONT][/CENTER] [CENTER][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]You have no compassion; the Lord’s Light does not shine in you. [/SIZE][/FONT][/CENTER] [CENTER][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]You are drowned, drowned in worldly entanglements. (4) [/SIZE][/FONT][/CENTER][/CENTER] [/CENTER] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]It is clear from the [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Shabad"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Shabad[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] above that if [B]one does not have Compassion[/B], then you will [B]not by blessed by the Lord[/B]. You will not achieve any progress in your spiritual development and you will drown in [B]Worldly Entanglements[/B] or [B][URL="http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Maya"][U][COLOR=#0000ff]Maya[/COLOR][/U][/URL][/B]. It is mandatory to not ignore tragedies that take place in the world but to face them head-on and do whatever is possible within ones means. As a [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Sikh"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Sikh[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] you must [B]feel[/B] the [B]pain and suffering of other people[/B] involved in any tragedy. These days, in addition to natural disasters, we have many Man-inspired violence and destruction. Most of this crazy action is the result of peoples lack of understanding and due to a complete loss of compassion for humanity. The Devil runs the mind of these people. Let’s learn from [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Gurbani"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Gurbani[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman] as only then can we make sense of the world. [/FONT][/SIZE] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]In [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Japji"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Japji[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] sahib, the most important [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Bani"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Bani[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] for the [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Sikh"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Sikhs[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman], Maharaj says: [/FONT][/SIZE] [CENTER][CENTER][CENTER][FONT=Times New Roman][B][COLOR=darkorange][SIZE=3]SGGS Page 3[/SIZE][/COLOR][/B][COLOR=darkorange][URL="http://www.srigranth.org/servlet/gurbani.gurbani?Action=Page&Param=3&english=t&id=115#l115"][U][COLOR=#0000ff]Full Shabad[/COLOR][/U][/URL][/COLOR][/FONT][/CENTER] [CENTER][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]The mythical bull is Dharma, the son of compassion; this is what patiently holds the earth in its place. One who understands this becomes truthful. What a great load there is on the bull! [/SIZE][/FONT][/CENTER][/CENTER] [/CENTER] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]meaning that [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Dharma"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Dharma[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] or [B]Religion is the son of Compassion[/B]. Putting it another way: There would be [B]no religion if there was no compassion[/B]. This highlight how important this quality is and that it is central for religion to function. So make no mistake, and make sure that as a Sikh, this virtue is always in your mind and that you analyse your feelings and actions whenever you seen any injustice or suffering taking place. If your heart is not moved seeing the starving in Africa, or the sufferings of the victims of terrorist bombing, then you have much intra-inspection to do to move forward with [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Sikh"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Sikhi[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman]. [/FONT][/SIZE] [SIZE=3][/SIZE] [CENTER][CENTER][CENTER][FONT=Times New Roman][B][COLOR=darkorange][SIZE=3]SGGS Page 822[/SIZE][/COLOR][/B][COLOR=darkorange][URL="http://www.srigranth.org/servlet/gurbani.gurbani?Action=Page&Param=822&english=t&id=35087#l35087"][U][COLOR=#0000ff]Full Shabad[/COLOR][/U][/URL][/COLOR][/FONT][/CENTER] [CENTER][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Truth, contentment, compassion, Dharmic faith and purity - I have received these from the Teachings of the Saints. [/SIZE][/FONT][/CENTER] [CENTER][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]Says Nanak, one who realizes this in his mind, achieves total understanding.(2,4,90) [/SIZE][/FONT][/CENTER][/CENTER] [/CENTER] [SIZE=3][/SIZE] [SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman]If you desire to achieve total understanding, then make sure you practise Truth, contentment, compassion, Dharmic faith and purity at all times. That is the message of the Gurus! [/FONT][/SIZE] [SIZE=3][/SIZE] [CENTER][CENTER][FONT=Times New Roman][/FONT][/CENTER][/CENTER] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]DAYA (usually spelt daia in Punjabi), from [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Sanskrit"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Sanskrit[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] "Day" meaning [B]to sympathize with, to have pity on, stands for compassion, sympathy[/B]. It means [B]‘suffering in the suffering of all beings’[/B]. It is deeper and more positive in sentiment than sympathy. Daya, cognitively, observes alien pain; affectively, it gets touched by it and moves with affectional responses for the sufferer; and conatively it moves one to act mercifully, pityingly, with kindness and forgiveness. Daya is antithetical to hinsa (violence). One imbued with daya “chooses to die himself rather than cause others to die,” says [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Guru_Nanak"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Guru Nanak[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman] (GG, 356). [/FONT][/SIZE] [SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman][B]Daya[/B] is a [B]divine quality[/B] and a moral virtue highly prized in all religious traditions. In the [/FONT][/SIZE][URL="http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Sikh_Scripture"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Sikh Scripture[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3], mahadaial (super compassionate), daiapati (lord of compassion), daial dev (merciful god), karima, rahima (the merciful one), etc., have been used as attributive names of God (GG, 249, 991, 1027, 727). In [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Sikh"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Sikh[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman] ethics, too, daya is inter alia, a basic moral requirement, a moral vow. “Keep your heart content and [B]cherish compassion for all beings[/B]; this way alone can your holy vow be fulfilled” (GG 299). [/FONT][/SIZE] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]At the human level, one can comprehend feeling of another’s anguish, but as a theological doctrine it is to risk allowing suffering in God’s life. This has often caused much controversy in theological circles. God does not suffer in the sense of pain from evil as evil, but may suffer compassion (daya) as bearing the pain of others to relieve them (of pain as also of evil). That is why at the time of Babar’s invasion of India, [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Guru_Nanak"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Guru Nanak[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman], when he witnessed the suffering of people, complained to God: [/FONT][/SIZE] [CENTER][CENTER][CENTER][COLOR=#ee4000][SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman]Eti mar pai kurlane tain ki dardu na aia [/FONT][/SIZE][/COLOR][/CENTER] [CENTER][COLOR=#ee4000][SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman]So much agony were they put through So much anguish did they suffer— Were you not, O God, moved to compassion? [/FONT][/SIZE][/COLOR][/CENTER] [CENTER][B][COLOR=#ff6600][FONT=Times New Roman](GG, 360) [/FONT][/COLOR][/B][/CENTER][/CENTER] [/CENTER] [SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman]The Guru, in the image of God, is also daial purakh (compassionate being) and bakhasand (forgiver)—GG, 681. [/FONT][/SIZE] [SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman][B]Daya[/B] is a virtue of the mind. In [URL="http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/India"][U][COLOR=#0000ff]Indian[/COLOR][/U][/URL] thought, virtues are classified into (i) those of the body: [URL="http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php?title=Dana&action=edit"][COLOR=#cc2200][U]dana[/U][/COLOR][/URL] (charity), paritrana (succouring those in distress), paricharana (social service); (ii) those of speech: satya (veracity), hitovachana (beneficial speech), priyavachana (sweet speech), svadhyaya (reciting of Scriptures) and (iii) those of the mind which, besides daya, also include aparigraha (unworldliness) and sraddha (reverence and piety). [/FONT][/SIZE] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3]In [/SIZE][/FONT][URL="http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Sikh"][U][FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=#0000ff]Sikh[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/U][/URL][SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman] thought [B]daya[/B] is considered the [B]highest virtue[/B]: [/FONT][/SIZE] [CENTER][CENTER][CENTER][COLOR=#ee4000][SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman]Athsathi tirath sagal punn jia daia parvanu [/FONT][/SIZE][/COLOR][/CENTER] [CENTER][COLOR=#ee4000][SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman]The merit of pilgrimages of holy places sixty-eight, and that of other virtues besides, equal not compassion to living beings. [/FONT][/SIZE][/COLOR][/CENTER] [CENTER][B][COLOR=#ff6600][FONT=Times New Roman](GG, 136) [/FONT][/COLOR][/B][/CENTER][/CENTER] [/CENTER] [SIZE=3][/SIZE] [CENTER][CENTER][CENTER][COLOR=#ee4000][SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman]Daya, in fact, is considered to be Truth in action: [/FONT][/SIZE][/COLOR][/CENTER] [CENTER][COLOR=#ee4000][SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman]sachu ta paru janiai ja sikh sachi lei; daia janai jia ki kichhu punnu danu karei Truth dawns when truthful counsel is accepted, Seeking familiarity with compassion one gives away virtuous charity. [/FONT][/SIZE][/COLOR][/CENTER] [CENTER][B][COLOR=#ff6600][FONT=Times New Roman](GG, 468) [/FONT][/COLOR][/B][/CENTER][/CENTER] [/CENTER] [SIZE=3][/SIZE] [CENTER][CENTER][CENTER][COLOR=#ee4000][SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman]Daya is, in reality, true action or action par excellence (karni sar) [/FONT][/SIZE][/COLOR][/CENTER] [CENTER][COLOR=#ee4000][SIZE=3][FONT=Times New Roman]as are truth and contentment, the other two high virtues [/FONT][/SIZE][/COLOR][/CENTER] [CENTER][B][COLOR=#ff6600][FONT=Times New Roman](GG, 51) [/FONT][/COLOR][/B][/CENTER][/CENTER] [/CENTER] [SIZE=3][/SIZE] [/QUOTE]
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