To understand the quality of humanity in
an individual, check what he does for people who give nothing back in return to
the favour they have offered.
Humanity means caring for and helping
others whenever and wherever possible. Humanity means helping others at times
when they need that help the most, humanity means forgetting your selfish
interests at times when others need your help. Humanity means extending
unconditional love to each and every living being on Earth.
There is a superb tale of Meghrath in
Jainism, which defines Humanity. Meghrath was a benevolent and religious
ruler. He was compassionate and protected all living things. One day, all of a
sudden a pigeon, trembling with fear, fell in his lap and uttered in choking
human voice, "Save me, O king! Give me refuge, take me under your protection!"
The compassionate king comforted the bird and took it under his protection.
The pigeon
was followed by a falcon who too uttered in human language, "O king! This
pigeon is my food, leave it alone." The king tried to explain, "It
has taken refuge with me, as such I am duty bound to protect it. I will give
you any type of food you want; why kill a living thing just to fill your
stomach?"
The falcon
insisted, "If you will not leave it I may die of hunger. I am a carnivore;
who will provide me food. If I die, you will be responsible and bear the
sin."
When the
falcon did not yield, Meghrath said at last, "O falcon! As long as I
exist, I will not allow you to die. I will cut out flesh from my body
equivalent to the weight of this little pigeon and give it to you. You may
satisfy your urge to eat. But under no circumstance I shall allow you to kill
the bird that has taken refuge with me."
The falcon
agreed to this proposal and the king put the pigeon in one pan of balance and
in the other started putting pieces of flesh cut out from his own body.
Surprisingly, the weight of the pigeon continued to increase as the king went
on putting his flesh in the pan. Witnessing this pathetic scene, the queens and
the members of the assembly were moved to tears. They requested the king not to
sacrifice his precious life for a mere pigeon. The falcon, was also requested
relent but he too declined.
The king
continued to cut flesh from his body and put it in the pan of the balance. At
last, when the pieces of flesh were not enough, the king got up from his seat
and sat down in the pan. Everyone present was dumb struck at this lofty
compassion and chivalry displayed by the king. That is the moment when both the Falcon and the pigeon
turn into angels who appeared on the earth to test the extent of the king’s
humanity.
It is important to understand one
important fact; an individual’s life is successful not by the number of degrees
he or she attains but by the degree of humanitarian activities that individual
is into on a day to day basis.
-Darshan Shah
👌👌👌👌👌👌👌
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