That Is How the Spring of Compassion Flows…

From
Malayala Manorama (മലയാള മനോരമ)
Sunday Supplement 9.8.26
Innathe Chintavishayam

(Thought for the day)
by
Nijoy

When I read this article it touched me very much. I felt it has to reach people who do not have access to this regional  newspaper.

Posting its English translation  here for the sake of readers who are alien to Malayalam language.

Malayalam is spoken by around 3 crores of the population in India.  They are residents  of  Kerala state,  southern India.

That Is How the Spring of Compassion Flows…

The most heartfelt answer to the question, “What did you give?” is “Love.”

One should be a companion for as long as one is together.

The Story of  Anand

The 1971 Bollywood film “Anand,” starring Rajesh Khanna and Amitabh Bachchan in the lead roles, tells the story of the deep emotional bond between a terminally ill but cheerful patient and the doctor treating him.

The patient, Anand, who is confined to his bed, often speaks about a very close friend. He describes someone who loved him deeply, wrote letters to him regularly and made all the moments they spent together beautiful. He continues describing this friend at length.

But, in reality, Anand never had such a friend. It was only an imagination.

When the doctor realizes this, he begins writing letters himself. He writes them just as Anand would imagine his friend writing them—with warmth and affection. He then sits beside the patient and reads the letters aloud to him.

In this way, the doctor becomes Anand's imagined friend and helps him continue his remaining days with happiness and hope.

The Small Wonders of Life

Life is not always about extraordinary achievements. Sometimes, the simple acts of kindness and the happiness received through them are what make each moment meaningful.

A bus driver who stops for a minute for a child running to catch the bus because he is late for an examination is a small miracle.

A shopkeeper who, without the customer's knowledge, puts back into the bag half of the vegetables that the customer had said he did not need is another example of kindness.

There are people who may not know what help to ask for. For some, a caring presence, a gentle touch or simply a compassionate look is enough to give them hope.

A person who is hungry may not need material possessions; he needs food. A person without water needs something to drink. For someone who has no hope of recovery, what can be given is a compassionate presence and emotional support.

The Message

Visible good deeds and achievements are often celebrated as the most beautiful moments of life. But if we look carefully, we understand that kindness often flows through ordinary people who remain unnoticed and whose good deeds never make headlines.

It is not easy to provide a permanent solution to another person's problems, and nobody may even expect it. But when someone's days are numbered, being there for them with love, warmth and companionship can be enough for them to close their eyes in peace and satisfaction.

The essence of the article is:

When I read this article it touched me very much. I felt it has to reach people who do not have access to this newspaper.

Sometimes the greatest gift we can give another person is simply love, companionship and a caring presence.

The article in Malayalam in the Malayala Manorama was translated by Tessy - Thomas Jacob