Compassion Is An Ace Virtue

Compassion is like a cathedral in our heart that incites us to serve the destitute. When we internalize this feeling as the voice of our soul, it bedazzles us with the radiance of an inner shrine. Often, words that emanate from our soul are the wisdom of our conscientious state and show us a unique light that exists in all of us. This illumination within is the grace that we can feel when we touch others lives through a compassionate heart and an open mind. As a synagogue inside, compassion is a novel gesture that connects affection and inspiration to pain and suffering in a healing relationship.

The magnificence of compassion is a push that we feel by sharing its benevolent power with the ones in great need. As the lyrical beats of our heart, compassion is a song that God gifted us to listen to other’s call of anxiety and turmoil, violence and abuse. Uncovering this abundant empathy inside to uplift the oppressed and unfortunate, is a fulfillment beyond comparison. Such rehabilitative force inside us can repair wounded emotions, help restore positive energy in others and can sometimes be a phenomenon deeper than the acumen of medical science.

Compassion is also a stimulant virtue that helps us honor the dignity in human relationships, irrespective of one’s material status. As fortitude of a visionary mind and strength of character, compassion is the route to righteousness. Preserving the sanctity in humanity through kind actions and genuine concern for the sick, poor, battered and homeless conserves positivity in us and also promotes social conscience. Most importantly, as a cornerstone of faith, compassion trespasses creed to create uniformity in our feelings for others and unites us in motley with our global brothers and sisters.

Mother Teresa was one such humanitarian who left us with the legacy of her compassionate mission. Her work for lepers, abandoned women and children is instrumental in the history of charity and social change in India and world over. Born as an Albanian with a heart that was truly Indian, Mother Teresa took compassion to a global scale. As an apostle of charity, she served and saved many vulnerable lives in India and throughout Asia, Africa, Latin America, North America, Poland and Australia. Had she restricted her altruistic mission to her native in Albania, this world would have been deprived of a compassionate mother. On her death, Mother Teresa laid beatified in a glass coffin with her serene white face and a life similar to a sage. As a holy icon, she taught us a chaste lesson that compassion is not an end but the means to an allusive beginning.

Copyright (c) 2009 - present Dharbarkha.blogspot

Haiti’s Orphans See A Light

The dismay of a post-quake state may have left Haiti with appalling questions for times to come. It however has been far more daunting for the little children who lost their families in this abhorrent act of nature. One moment these little Haitians may have been swinging with joy in the blessedness and warmth of their families and the other moment shook them apart while searching for their loved ones under the rubble in despair. Such face of time, when someone’s world just changes in a blink of an eye, seems like an account beyond the wisdom of science. As intimidating as Earthquakes and other natural calamities are, besides terrorizing humanity, they also signify that nothing is permanent in this life. Unfortunately so many little children in Haiti had to learn this hard way and so early in life.

As blossoming and fresh as their childhood may have been, the current catastrophe in Haiti has left its children with a predicament. Most of these children today have shattered dreams in their gloomy eyes and their destinies uncharted as of now. While these little Haitians may feel the pinch of this for long, there still is a hope for them. Airlifting of some orphans from Haiti to United States today shows such resplendence amid an obscurity. The decision to unite some of these parentless children and many more in the process later is like showing light through a dark tunnel. Children who were already in final stages of adoption have been the fortunate one’s leaving back so many others baffled who are now orphaned due to the recent calamity.

While Haiti’s priority may be to reshape and reinforce itself through world aid and self-help but its utmost concern should be its future, the little Haitians. Placing displaced children with suitable adoptive families certainly would be a cumbersome process and a careful strategy, in the middle of ruins and remains. It however shall travel great distances in bringing back lost spirit and sentiments in each innocent child. Adopting children who today are in immense need of love and affection is an act no less than humanitarianism. Showing such gratitude for nurturing life is a practical illustration of co-existence and a cosmic momentum in fosterage. Such compassion mindfully fills up vacuums in lives and facilitates felicity and fruition in the lineage of humanity. As a message of change and hope, it creates detours to give and receive love and saves little angels from emotional erosion, early on, in their lives.

Copyright (c) 2009 - present Dharbarkha.blogspot

The Paradigm Of A Speech

History is evident of a rhetoric speech that changed the face of a nation. Forty seven years later America still reiterates the dreams that Martin Luther King envisioned on the day of 28th August in 1963. Years, days and months have since passed by and each moment has brought in multilateralism and multiculturalism to make America’s multiform unique and most respected for its global diversity. As an American hero, Dr. King’s symbolic speech has always been a learning model in schools and colleges to respect diversity as quintessential in socioeconomic growth of a nation. As a classic phenomenon, his ‘I have a dream speech’ has fortified America with its multiethnic strength and continuous efforts towards liberty, justice and equality. In my view, Martin Luther King’s encouragement of the 1960’s today is a benchmark and an inspiration for America to share prosperity not only within but with others as well. Such propensity and fortitude has made America grow determined in its mission and stronger in its mettle to face challenges of a growing nation and a global leader.

The yesteryears of the civil rights movement over the past have seen a new dawn each day and each year. 1960’s and 70’s as the phase of change in America saw economic growth through infrastructural developments, educational opportunities, modern science and technology, space exploration, making this nation one of the richest in the world. Dr. King’s words, ‘We cannot walk alone and we cannot turn back’, have truly inspired this nation and made it a mammoth to withstand any crisis. As an initiation of a new world and a horizon of hope, his speech has made every American realize the essence of fellowship, irrespective of race or color. A conscientiousness and   vision of a brand new America back then, has made this nation realize its future through fairness and camaraderie by honoring multiple cultural identities in a unified society. Such mindfulness speaks more than mere words. Martin Luther King’s speech as America’s anchor shall always remind this nation of how their forefathers struggled to make each fellow American stand at par with other, diverse in appearances though, yet similar in emotions.

As a prima facie of this nation, King’s speech shall always be the cornerstone of social justice and change. As a foundation of faith in the religion of humanity, Dr. King’s speech is a torchbearer that shall guide America in good times, sad times and changing times. Also, as a gesture of hope and a commandant of service, his speech is a mode to realize that crisis shall skedaddle, a downturn today shall be an upturn tomorrow, and political parties and Presidents shall come and go but freedom, fellow feelings, peace and brotherhood are here to stay. As a fundamental of democracy, King’s speech encourages living in the moment to share his vision not as the people of America but as the voice of America. As fearless as he was and as enterprising his leadership was, his verses have taught America to be similar in character and capacity as a nation. Most importantly, it has unfolded America to see new dreams, a transformation not just through time but through heart and mind. 

Copyright (c) 2009 - present Dharbarkha.blogspot
Photo Courtesy:  images.allposters.com

Bringing Haiti Back to Life

Haiti, as a Caribbean island with its post-colonial heritage and ethno-linguistic medley may have allured most of us as a vacation spot in the past. Devastation caused by the recent earthquake however has left it in the thick of violence and turmoil causing a trample to rescue and relief. While the pictures and videos of Port-au-Prince show a demolition similar to a war zone, it is yet more bereaving to see lives still struggling for subsistence. The situation in Haiti appears wilder and much intense compared to San Francisco’s earthquake in 1989 that made quake resistant approach California’s answer to earth’s seismic actions.  For America investing on post quake groundwork was viable even in the 80’s, which for Haiti seemed futile even in the 21st century. Such vulnerability of a nation seems no different than the susceptibility to crisis poor families face around the globe even as I write this post.

Haiti today has staged some important questions. To begin with, it has posed that advancement and opportunities in select few nations of the world may not be an answer to eradicate global poverty. Secondly, progressive change has to be a unanimous force where each developed nation is responsible to share its abundance to fill dearth in its third world counterparts. Most importantly, it opens us to the fact that giving, compassion and benevolence should not be the ideals of charities or humanitarian aid organizations alone. Like the Red Cross, United Nations, Doctors without Borders or many other relief organizations, humanitarianism should be a state of mind, which can help us connect with our global brothers and sisters. Such moral responsibility and empathy exists in all of us. As our inner voice, it shakes us when we see people around us aching or a poor innocent nation bleeding. This conscience as our core and also the heart of a nation motivates us to help and pull out Haiti from its current stand still.

Helping Haiti would be spreading hope and sharing uncountable smiles that certainly would go miles in resurrecting a damaged nation. Your donation to Doctors without Borders shall help Haitians bounce back and also build resilience to face quake aftermaths. As a source of strength, helping Haiti shall give the people more than just bread and butter. It shall give life back to a nation and spring joy once again across the Caribbean. Such pleasantness shall be a gift of affection and inspiration, as a nation is not just build on structures alone, it is also founded and grounded on emotions.

Copyright (c) 2009-2010 Dharbarkha.blogspot
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Building Hope for Haiti Again

Recent tremors on the Haitian turf are more than just a calamity. These shocks are nature’s one among many signs to mankind as its face-off with the macrocosm. While I am perturbed on the enormity of this catastrophe, I feel such ruckus is more than an augment eye opener. Sometimes it may even look like a nature’s time out to us. Such natural disasters and many others speak deeper than just being earth’s scientific currents that can shake mankind. Dreadful and distressing, yet in a unique manner they caution humanity. Robert Creamer’s article on Huffington Post, ‘It Is Our Moral Responsibility to Help Haiti-And Its In America’s Interest’ seemed to share this in an idiosyncratic manner. He writes about how Haiti was starting to dream through socioeconomic changes and infrastructural prospects and how badly it stands now amid turmoil. However, a ray still exists when he says that Haitians have not lost hope, which is a blazing lesson that an injured and agonized nation can teach us all. 

Also, Robert’s resurrecting theme in his article, in a way, is an alert that we shouldn’t have to wait for a crisis to happen in order to recognize the cognizance of global unanimity. Why does an earthquake have to motivate us to reach out to the world’s poorest nation? And how many of us even knew this about Haiti before? As a rescue mission, most countries today are at Haiti’s beck and call but what happens when the situation normalizes. Are we going to internalize and learn something this time or will it be slowly fading away like the Tsunami crisis. In my view, a ‘help is on the way’ action should not be bounded by such calamitous events. Such thinking should rather be reinforcement for change locally and globally to appreciate the distinctiveness that each of us or each nation has to offer and the synergy that we can create together. This is also a facet that Robert Creamer shares when he encourages America to rebuild Haiti for the price of few CEO bonuses or F-22 fighters. His words unfold us once again to the law of co-existence. Working towards minimizing the poverty gap, starting with individual effort in our neighborhood or community can slowly be motivational for fellow countrymen. Similarly, encouragements towards collective contribution in human and intellectual development on a global scale are potential ways that can rebuild Haiti and also hope for other poor nations around the world. Such humanitarian state of mind and state of a country as a social contagion can certainly echo change and navigate us in a new direction.

Copyright (c) 2009 - present Dharbarkha.blogspot
Photo Courtesy: XOZ/Flickr

A Conversation on Faith

The other day an interesting piece of dialogue on religion caught my attention in ‘letters to editor’ section in the Foreign policy magazine. An exchange of views on Islam and its perceived partake on fundamentalism seemed to be the debate between Sam Harris and Karen Armstrong. Both the writers shared their sagacity on the issue and in a way inspired me. An argument on religion, in my view, is particularly sensitive, be it Islam or any other form. This however does not mean that in order to discuss religion one needs to be a prophetic or an authoritarian on system of beliefs. Any religion, according to me, is a system of religiosity, a doctrine for oneness and communion not only with God or the Holy Scriptures but within us and with others. Such veneration for religion, Islam, Christianity or so many other forms is actually our faith or an allegiance with principles that we are born and brought up with. So how can any religion create an antagonistic pattern? But we people who represent different forms of religious identities sure can. It’s our thinking-feeling patterns and obviously our perceptions and sometimes social/community pressures that incite us to trespass creed. 

As for ‘fundamentalism’, it is a component that seems to be present in most religions. Such ideals sometimes act as foundations leading to fanatics, a state of extreme emotions. This extremism can be our ‘good or bad’ emotions and no religion in my perspective would motivate us to act against humanity or the ideals to preserve it. In my view, focal for any religion is faith, a foundation that inspires to love and be loved. Such zeal is always deep inside; it just needs to penetrate our heart and mind to see all human beings as unique, all religions as equal and all fundamental principles as single entity that respect dignity in humanitarian relationships. Also, human nature and the capability of our mind as a dense and dynamic characteristic, sometimes forges us to affliction in the name of religion. How deeply is it justified using God as an instrument of disharmony or associating devotion with emotionally charged movements that may benefit few in the society? Having an eye for faith, on the other hand, can seed our theological desires and help us to internalize happiness in whatever religious identity our destiny brought us into.

Copyright (c) 2009-present Dharbarkha.blogspot 
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Sarcasm is a Social Phenomenon

Time and again, sarcasm has been mankind’s behavioral predisposition as his tyranny on nature to unjustly abuse the powers of mind.  Such faculties have brutally pillaged us of fellow feelings to be our navigators in a social setup. A society is far deeper than just the evolution of humanity or a group of communities. As a structured system of human organization and communal conjugation, society means sustaining camaraderie to penetrate hearts with feelings like empathy and not cynicism or mockery. However, the amplitude of our mind like a magnet attracts the atrocious sooner than the admirable in any situation, which makes us susceptible to social impediments. 

As a spectacle of our identity and the jurisdiction of our mind, sarcasm is a parasite for co-existence that hurts most of us in the wrong place. It starts within families, extends to communities and wobbles societies. As a stubborn child, it is mulish on downgrading others through remarks, bitterness and derision to preserve the egotistic us. Sarcasm, as a habit grows on us and slowly separates us from our conscience. It routes us to a state where we find pleasure in criticizing, backbiting, fabricating truth, perjury and defaming others. Such infiltration of emotions and crossing over relationship territories disturbs alignments in kinship, co-worker efficacy, parent-child associations and familial accord, thereon pushing us to greater social imbalances like racism, gender discrimination and non-egalitarianism.

I remember somebody once invited me and my family over and while we were having lunch, the hostess ambushed me sarcastically. For a moment I let silence fill in. However, later on I could sense that somebody else’s nastiness as a motive to defame me was the basis for the hostess’s sarcasm. As a minute illustration therefore of how sarcasm works shows the ways we betray each other knowingly or unknowingly to scroll over pride and prejudices. Imagine our little children picking such damaging demeanor from us that could clog their positive personality development. Sometimes the whole idea behind sarcasm perturbs me for who knows that this may be the seed sown in young minds to instigate one’s fanatical character for terror and turmoil for humanity. As an anomaly from our inner identity, sarcasm secretly creates antagonistic pattern in a society to birth a phenomenon incurable for an ethical, impartial and equitable society. The decision to scion a new beginning hence is on us, now or never.

Copyright (c) 2009 - present Dharbarkha.blogspot 
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