- It is good to have compassion for others. There is, however, a great difference between compassion [daya] and attachment [maya]. Compassion is good; attachment is not good. Maya is love for one’s own near and dear ones – wife, son, brother, sister, brother’s son, sister’s son, father, and mother – love for these. Compassion, however, is love for all beings equally.
- Compassion comes from sattvaguna. Sattvaguna preserves, rajoguna creates, and tamoguna destroys. But Brahman is beyond the three gunas – sattva, rajas and tamas. It is beyond nature.
- Maya binds man. It takes one away from God. Compassion leads one towards Him. Sukadeva and Narada both had compassion.
- Many people think very highly of the physician’s calling. But the profession would be the highest of the high only if a doctor were to treat his patients without charge, only out of compassion for their suffering.