If one shows empathy towards others, it shows that one is treating others as equal souls, writes AJIT KUMAR BISHNOI
In the verse #6.32 of the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna is describing who is a superior yogi. He has stated, “One who sees similarity between self and all living entities, that a yogi is considered superior.” How is the word empathy defined? It is the ability to understand another person’s feelings and experiences, especially because you have been in a similar situation. It is somewhat different from the more common emotion — sympathy, which is defined as the feeling of being sorry for somebody; showing that you understand and care about somebody’s problems. While sympathy is the feeling of pity or sorrow for someone else, empathy is the ability to emotionally understand what other people feel, see things from their point of view, and imagine yourself in their place. That is the reason empathy is a divine quality worthy of mention by the Lord. In the same verse, Lord Krishna goes further and says that yogi should be able to do so whether in pleasure or in pain. Most people, who do possess the quality of empathy do so in good time.
The following made up story highlights this emotion. Two fierce competitors were pitted against one another in several swimming events. Much was on stake for both, as they were representing their nations in the Olympics. However, only one swimmer found repeated success. The last event was the next day. The other swimmer had one last chance to bring glory to his nation. The successful swimmer thought to himself that one more gold will not matter to him that much. He decided to let the other swimmer win the last race. But he had to make it look as if the other swimmer deserved his victory. This kind swimmer swam as if he was tired from earlier races. He made it look that he was trying his best. Such was his mood of empathy.
Why don’t more people feel empathy towards others? Why is this such a rare emotion? The first reason is the obvious one: it is difficult to care about other people’s feelings, obsessed as we are with ours. We are mostly judgmental; we are quick to condemn others for some mistakes made. The emotion of anger is mostly to blame. We don’t see other persons as packages, but we get focused on shortcomings/experience with that person. One has to have very good ‘sanskars’ to be able to possess this divine quality. We love to criticise than feel empathy towards others.
But if one can show empathy towards others, God is pleased, because it shows that one is treating others as equal souls, who are prone to err as all of us are. You show empathy to a fellow being and see how quickly you begin to see good side of his personality. Don’t we all possess both good and bad emotions? Yes, the classification of a good person and a bad one is on the basis of preponderance of them, not absence of them. People remember an act of empathy; one never knows when it will bring some welcome return. The person concerned may not be that person, but divine authorities notice such acts and duly reward. In oneself also, the mode of goodness is reinforced, which brings many benefits. The three modes, i.e. goodness, passion and darkness are always competing with one another for supremacy. (14.10) And you feel good having done an empathetic act; it is similar to appreciating others generously. It looks like a tall order to get started, but is not all that difficult. Just start thinking about it..
Bishnoi is a spiritual writer and can be reached at spiritual@ajitbishnoi.com
