Loving Without Conditions

The language of the soul begins with love. In a world besieged with violence, discrimination and hate, unconditional love alone can heal and make it a better place, says Jamuna Rangachari.

- Jamuna Rangachari

Saint Haridas was known for never losing his temper. Once, two young men from his village were talking about this quality of his. As the talks proceeded, one of them took it as a challenge to provoke him and make him lose it. He stood on the river bank where the saint used to go to take bath before offering prayers to his deity. As soon as the saint came out of the river the man spat at him. Haridas simply turned back and went to the river to clean himself. While he was returning the miscreant spat at him again. The saint turned back again and silently went to wash himself in the river. This activity continued for many hours but the saint never once rebuked the young man or lost his cool at him.

Finally, the man’s mouth began to ache with too much spitting. He also began to feel ashamed of himself. He gave up and begged the saint for forgiveness, asking him how was it possible for him to not get angry despite being provoked to such an extent. The saint replied, “Son, I offer my pure love to the deity in the temple. How could I contaminate it with anger or hatred for one of his children?”

The young man felt deeply ashamed of himself. His heart changed and he fell at Haridas’ feet, asking to be taken as his disciple. Haridas forgave him and accepted him open-heartedly. Had he retaliated or opposed him virulently, it would only have given power to his attacker, and expressed the saint’s sense of helplessness.