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Sikh Research Institute
Sikh Research Institute Canada
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As we move through our daily lives, it is easy to view our relationships in terms of transaction. We convince ourselves that it is only those who we deem to be 'good' ought to be treated with kindness. We might think we ought to treat people we understand to be 'bad' or 'negative' badly. We might see this as a kind of justice we are doling out. Why should we be nice to people who do not return that kindness? Why be forgiving to those who are vengeful? Why be compassionate to those who lack compassion?
Sheikh Farid's words offer us an urging into a more vast approach:
Sheikh Farid gently and lovingly guides us out of this way of thinking. True goodness is not selective or conditional. If our compassion depends on who deserves it, then it is narrow. But when we choose to be kind and compassionate no matter who we are interacting with, we rise above the cycle of negativity. We become people whose hearts are not controlled by the actions of others. We ought to be good even to the bad. We ought to be kind even to the unkind. We ought to be gracious even to the most harsh. We ought to rid ourselves of this picking and choosing, this thinking about who deserves our compassion and who does not. If we are truly compassionate, let us be compassionate to all, in every moment.
Do not harbor anger in the mind.
Anger is a disease of its own kind. It can feel addicting to hold onto, and when we hold onto it, it can quietly grow within us, taking up space in our minds and hearts. That anger comes to engulf everything. Even in moments of comfort and bliss, we cannot truly savor their sweetness if anger still lingers quietly in the corners of our mind.
When we work to release anger and resentment, we create space within ourselves. In that space, contentment can settle. Joy can grow. Compassion can expand. We can become vast in our virtue and in our grace.
Sheikh Farid beautifully describes this by saying that when anger leaves us, everything falls into the hem of our garment—all Divine virtues and blessings begin to gather naturally in our lives. We will get all that we hope for.
Will we hold onto emotions that shrink our hearts, or will we cultivate the compassion that makes us vast?
Will we learn to practice this task that is at once simple and difficult?
May we learn to walk this path of the devotee with open hearts.
May we expand in our compassion.
May we do good to the bad.
May the Wisdom-Guru guide us!
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