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.Kama isthe illegitimate son of Kunti and Surya, the sun god.While he was stilla baby, his shamed mother put him afloat in a basket on the waters ofGanga.When he was killed during the famous battle of Kurukshetra,88Karuna: Sadness 89he had no sons to take care of his funeral rites, because all of them hadbeen killed there as well.Personal bad luck or something disastrous happening to one's lovedones are the most common causes for Sadness.A better understandingof the illusionary nature of existence may also create more self-centeredSadness, as in feelings that relationships with family and friends arereally an illusion.Sadness is a feeling that comes when we have to letgo of attachments.This pain is difficult to rationalize out of existence.When someone close dies, every culture has developed funeral rites thathelp us to express this feeling, so that through the expression it may alsoexhaust itself.In India, it is common for relatives to respect one year ofmourning following a funeral, after which everybody is expected to getover the pain and get on with life.In pity, another form of Karuna, the suffering of others is regardedas real and separate from one's own problems, even though the feelingmay be stronger the more one recognizes the problem from one's ownexperience.The solutions thought of through pity may be well intendedand offered in selfless service, but are always in vain.The only solutionto suffering is true knowledge.As such, pity is a kind of suffering insympathy, felt by a kind-hearted person, but it is still based on discrimi-nation.For God, everything is the same and equally worthy of kindness,which is why Hindus call God "Karuna nisban," full of Compassion.Compassion is a Sadness that is not self-centered.One might saythat while Sadness is an ingredient of Compassion, true Compassiongoes beyond Sadness to an unending kindness that doesn't taste likeSadness at all, in which the Sadness of Sadness evaporates in Love andtruth.True Compassion involves the recognition that the suffering of oth-ers (as well as their joy) is also our own.Nobody has any problem thatis not related to ignorance and ignorance is the fate of all who are notenlightened.If we can feel sorry for others without feeling any betterthan them, we may experience the highest Karuna.True Compassion is without discrimination and can be felt forhumans as well as for animals, plants, or enemies.It makes us a kind90 THE NINE RASASperson, extending loving kindness to every being we meet.This depth ofCompassion is beautifully expressed in the story of the saint that lifted ascorpion out of the water to carry it to safety, even though it was sting-ing him.Both the saint and the scorpion were doing nothing but follow-ing their dharma.Buddha did not feel pity for the suffering of others but for the igno-rance that causes suffering and that is why he set himself on the pathof self-realization.When becoming enlightened, the one who vowsto continue to reincarnate until all beings are enlightened as well iscalled a Bodhisattva.The Dalai Lama is a good example of this Karunadiscipline.In Compassion, mind, ego, and intellect are active.The intellect andmind can help in analyzing both the problem and the solution.The egohas to accept a relationship in order to feel Compassion for the one whosuffers.To feel Compassion for a drowning scorpion, one has to feel akinship to it, as a saint will feel toward everything that exists.Real Compassion is a divine quality that makes a person a realhuman being.This Karuna polishes our consciousness of the Divine,making it stand out more clearly and beautifully.It is the cause of manyspiritual thoughts and ideas and promotes religion very well.The Chris-tian cross is a powerful symbol of Karuna, of suffering out of Compas-sion for others.Sub-Rasas of SadnessWhen we feel pity for ourselves, then everything becomes sad, nothinggives joy, and we feel detached from everything.As long as we do notseek to blame anyone or our self for our misfortune, it remains just Sad-ness.When blame becomes the subject, then Sadness turns into Anger orDisgust.When God or life is blamed, faith is lost and the combinationof Sadness, Anger, and Disgust may cause depression for a very longperiod.In Bhakti Yoga, a kind of Sadness exists that is actually a part ofShringara (Vipralambha Shringara): The feeling of Sadness that comesKaruna: Sadness 91when we feel separated from God (see chapter 5).That Sadness can be apowerful motivating force, which causes the bhakta to increase his or herefforts to reach God, the seventh chakra, and cosmic consciousness.Sadness in the BodyKaruna is rajasic and ruled by the water element, which becomes visiblewhen it causes tears to flow.Tears cried in self-pity are sour and harm-ful to the eyes.It is good that they leave the body, but the eyes shouldbe rinsed afterward.Tears cried out of Compassion for others (or out ofhappiness) are not sour.Tears more easily come to women because they are more dominatedby the water element.Likewise, kapha people more easily experiencethe various forms of Karuna than others.Fenugreek leaves (methi), saf-fron, and pumpkin are great foods that can bring back joy through bodychemistry.The Moon influences the water element so it also influences ourmoods
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