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Compassion is the Key
A meditation by Bhakti Tirtha Swami
Posted September 22, 2004
Dear Maharaja and Prabhus,

Please accept my humble obeisances All glories to ISKCON Founder Acharya Srila Prabhupada

I pray this letter finds all of you blissfully engaged in preparing for Janmastami and Srila Prabhupada's Vyasa Puja celebrations. In this spirit I am submitting this short update about my health, but more important a reflection from my Beggar 1 book. " Meditations and Prayers on the Supreme Lord Meditation#33."

This prayer and my Vyasa Puja offering to Srila Prabhupada, which all of you will soon read or perhaps have already read, are self explanatory.

I am rather thin, having lost about 5 pounds each week for the last four weeks. Perhaps I could write a diet book on how to lose 20-25 pounds each month (smile). Krsna has arranged a nice environment near the sea and expert doctors who have a good track record in helping people with very advanced stages of cancer.

I am having many wonderful opportunities to preach and distribute books as the patients and doctors are from a few different countries. The doctors are addressing the cancer, diabetes, bladder, prostate, and high blood pressure problems. I am up for a whole overhauling of the body. When most of you see me again, I will have a new body, one way or another.

Yours in service to Srila Prabhupada,
With Love,
BTSwami

Meditation #33, " Compassion Is the Key"

Yesterday, my dear Lord Syama, I tried to make an appeal to You. I inquired: "Dear Lord, since I have been away from You for so long, trying to do Your work in the material worlds, don't You think it is time for me to return home, back to Your divine abode?"

You glanced at me in a penetrating and loving way, and instead of being angry with me for my presumptuous and arrogant nature, You, out of great concern, asked my spiritual master to enlighten me. The spiritual master said: "My dear son, please come with me. See that blind man stumbling around, trying to move about as people are bumping into him? When your compassion is so strong for this soul that you are ready to take his place, freeing him from his torment, then you will be a candidate for the Kingdom of God."

As I studied the blind man's condition, I was overwhelmed with compassion. The spiritual master said: "My dear son, please come with me. Observe this man who has impaired speech. There are so many things he would like to talk about and express to others, but since he cannot talk he is usually disregarded. This leaves the poor man in great frustration. When you are ready to take his place so he can be freed from his torment, then you will be a candidate for the Kingdom of God."

As I studied the man's condition, I was overwhelmed with compassion. The spiritual master requested that I continue with him. He said: "Please observe the invalid confined to his bed. Notice how he is a burden to his so-called friends and family members. They will be so relieved when he finally dies. When your compassion is so strong for his soul that you are ready to take his place so he can be freed from his torment, then you will be a candidate for the Kingdom of God."

As I studied the invalid's condition, I was overwhelmed with compassion. The spiritual master motioned: "Come this way my beloved son. Take notice of this homeless man. At the end of the day, he has no family or home to return to, and even when he tries to find a place to rest, sometimes the children harass him or the police harass him. When your compassion is so strong for this soul that you are ready to take his place so he can be freed from his torment, then you will be a candidate for the Kingdom of God."

As I studied the homeless man and his condition I was overwhelmed with compassion. The spiritual master again requested that I continue with him. He said: "Observe this single woman with many children. For so long she has been looking for love, security, and protection. However, after being cheated, maltreated, and abused by her previous husbands, she is now single and has no substantial means of taking care of herself or her children. When your compassion is so strong for her that you are prepared to take her place so she can be freed from her torment, then you will be a candidate for the Kingdom of God."

As I studied her predicament, I was overwhelmed with compassion. My spiritual master then led me to a situation that seemed to be a contradiction. He said: "Please observe this woman." We took notice of a very wealthy lady who seemed very secure. However, each moment was hell for her because she had no children and desperately wanted to be a mother. She questioned her womanhood, as did her associates. She felt cursed by providence and often thought of committing suicide. "When your compassion is so strong for this soul that you are willing to take her place so she can be relieved of her torment, then you will be a candidate for the Kingdom of God."

As I studied her predicament I was overwhelmed with compassion. The spiritual master further requested that I continue with him: "Please observe this wretched man sentenced to life imprisonment. Each day he wakes up with nothing to look forward to. He has lost all contact with the outside world. Even his own family no longer communicates with him. He wishes that he had never been born, and prays for his life to end. He would like to commit suicide, but his imprisonment will not allow such freedom. When your compassion, my dear son, is so strong for this soul that you are even willing to take his place so he can be relieved of his torment, then you will be a candidate for the Kingdom of God."

As I studied the prisoner's condition, I was overwhelmed with compassion. The spiritual master encouraged me to observe the situation of a helpless child who was being repeatedly abused by those who were supposed to be her protectors. This innocent child kept turning to her parents and others for love and protection, but all they gave her was more abuse. The little child, unfortunately, perceived the entire world as a hostile place where adults existed just to inflict pain upon her. "Here again, my son, I must stress to you then when your compassion is so strong for this soul that you are willing to take her place so she can be freed from this torment, then you will be a candidate for the Kingdom of God."

As I studied the little girl's condition, I was overwhelmed with compassion. The spiritual master asked me to take notice of a refugee family. They lived like wild animals roaming from one dangerous situation to another. Looking for food, shelter, and security, even though they were not behind bars, they were imprisoned by their desperate condition. In great fear they tried to shake off the past, moving from city to city and camp to camp. Their release would come only from death, which stalked their every step. My spiritual master repeated: "When your compassion, my dear son, is so strong for these souls that you are willing to take their place so they can be freed from their torment, then you will be a candidate for the Kingdom of God."

As I studied their pitiful predicament, I was overwhelmed with compassion. I did not have time to compose myself, when my spiritual master said: " Once more, please come with me. Regard this elderly lady. She has given her life to her friends and family, but now she has grown old and wrinkled. No one wants to even look at her withered face. Even her own children treat her as if she has a contagious disease and painfully avoid her. Even the smallest request from her causes such resentment, and they frequently beat her. Her family members are worse than vultures. They take her money and other assets, hoping all the while that she will soon die so that they can be through with her once and for all."

The spiritual master turned to look at me with tear-filled eyes. I had not realized how much he too had been moved by the sufferings of all these souls. The tears ran more profusely down his face as he said with a choked-up voice: "When you have such compassion for these tormented souls that you not only are willing to change places with them, but are eagerly willing to remain in this hellish planet eternally, giving up all credits you have learned to be used by others, when you are willing to give up all considerations for your own liberation so that these souls can be liberated, only then can you be considered a serious candidate to return home back to the Kingdom of God."

The enormous problems and sufferings of these people overwhelmed me. I thought: "Is it possible for any person to have such profound selfless compassion?" Before I could express this in words, I looked again at my Guru's face and I realized how fortunate I was, for standing before me, guiding me, was such a selfless glorious soul. I knew he would gladly forgo all personal concerns to guarantee the return of other souls to the Kingdom of God. There was nothing left for me to say or do other than to promise the spiritual master that I would not rest until I had developed such profound compassion. Such compassion is not possible without serious blessings from the Guru and other souls, so I beg for their blessings. Other than that I will be forced to remain a pseudo-devotee, I beg that you make me such a pure devotee, although I am most unworthy.

BTSwami

© dipika.org September 22, 2004