Compassion and Sri Ramakrishna

'Com' implies 'together'. 'Passio'' is Latin for suffering. So compassion is the pity that inclines one to suffer with another and help him. It must be clearly noticed that compassion is not self-pity, but pity for others. It is  empathy  - the power of getting into the feelings of another and sharing those feelings. The other's  feelings become our own and so a bond of equality is set up between us and the other.

Sri Ramakrishna felt himself so much identified with everyone that he could not help physically sharing the sufferings of others. When two boatmen were quarrelling near the Ganges bank and beating each other, Sri Ramakrishna let out a scream. His nephew Hriday came running and was astounded to see the veals raised on his uncle's back. The blows of the boatmen were physically experienced by the Master.

 In fact, whoever went to Sri Ramakrishna was invariably impressed by his overwhelming compassion.

Perhaps Sri Ramakrishna's compassion is best highlighted in his relation with Narendra. When Narendra's father died suddenly, leaving the family, accustomed to affluence, literally penniless, Narendra was in agony, not knowing how he could help his mother, brothers and sisters. Sri Ramakrishna told one of his devotees that he should try to find a suitable job for Narendra. When Narendra came to know of this his self-respect was wounded and he took the Master severely to  task for publishing his domestic troubles. Sri Ramakrishna's reply was epic. He said,  "Naren, for you I am prepared to beg from door to door." We must remember this was said by a Ramakrishna who would not beg anything for himself even from the Divine Mother. This was compassion"

[But even compassion is not enough. Once Sri Ramakrishna, coming down from the superconscious state, exclaimed: "Talk of compassion for beings! Insignificant creatures that you are, how can you show compassion to beings? Who are you to show compassion?  You wretch,  Who are you to bestow it?  No, no; it is not compassion to Jivas, but service to them as Siva."]

-The Vedanta Kesari