68. Compassion is responsibility and energy

One of my disciples once asked me, 'Swamiji, how is it that so much energy constantly flows through you?'

When you feel compassion towards others' suffering, the whole thing takes the shape of responsibility and expresses itself as energy, that's all. For that matter, when anyone takes up the responsibility of suffering, they will immediately start radiating energy.

How many disciples did Jesus Christ have? Just twelve. How many disciples did Ramakrishna Paramahamsa* have? Only sixteen. Each of these beings had only a small number of disciples, but because they took up responsibility, the movements expanded.

Be very clear, you can stand up only if you feel responsible for people's growth, only if you feel responsible for uplifting them. When you can say that you will do whatever you can for people, when you stand up with responsibility, you expand and the divine energy flows through you. Contemplate on this concept so that you can deeply understand it.

Can air flow through a blocked bamboo? No! A blocked bamboo will only help carry a corpse to the cremation grounds. That same bamboo will become a flute when it is hollowed out! As long as you are selfcentered, you will serve in the same capacity as the blocked bamboo that carries the dead body. When you are free from ego and stand up with responsibility, the expansion happens and you become like the bamboo flute. Then, just as the air that enters the bamboo leaves it as music, so too will the air that enters you flow through you as energy!

Ramakrishna Paramahamsa - Enlightened master from West Bengal in India. His chief disciple was Swami Vivekananda.