The Different Acts of Mercy

Mahatma Gandhiji once said: " All life the flesh exists by some violence. Hence the highest religion has been defined by a negative word, Ahimsa. The world is bound in a chain of destruction. In other words, violence is an inherent necessity for life in the body. That is why a votary of Ahimsa always prays for ultimate deliverance from the bondage of the flesh."

In India, Ahimsa is one of the most cardinal virtues and doctrines of almost all the religions and philosophical sects. It had been repeatedly taught and expressly stated by the Rishis in the ancient scriptures, such as the Aitreya Brahmana, the Satapatha Brahmana, the Chandogya Upanishad, the Vamana Purana and Manu's Book of Law. Therefore it was thus declared in the
Mahabharata that "Ahimsa is the supreme Religion." And Gandhiji did recite the same words on several occasions.

In Christianity, we have two sets of these works, the Corporal Works (or Acts) of Mercy, relating to material needs of others, and Spiritual Works (or Acts) of Mercy, that are oriented toward the soul.

Corporal Works of Mercy are those that tend to bodily needs. They are the criteria by which Christ will judge people. Those who have done these good deeds will go to Heaven: those who have failed to do them will end up in the fires of Hell. The Seven Corporal Works of Mercy should not be confused with the Seven Virtues (Faith, Hope, Charity, Fortitude, Temperance, Justice and Prudence).

1. Feed the hungry
2. Give drink to the thirsty
3. Clothe the naked
4. Shelter the homeless
5. Visit the sick
6. Visit the imprisoned
7. Bury the dead

In the Spiritual works of mercy, not everyone is considered capable or obligated to perform the first three spiritual works of mercy if they do not have proper tact, knowledge or training to do so. The last four are considered to be the obligation of all people without condition.

1. Instruct OR teach the ignorant.
2. Counsel the doubtful and the Needy;
3. Admonish OR Chastise the sinners;
4. Comfort the sorrowful and Bear the wrongs patiently;
5. Forgive offences of the enemies willingly And injuries done to us;
6. Suffer Tribulation and Comfort the afflicted;
7. Pray for the living and the dead fervently.

It was obviously important to know the details of the good deeds that would merit a place in Heaven. Teaching about the Works of Mercy also highlights the important role accorded to charitable deeds in the late medieval church. The recipients of charity had a moral obligation to pray for those who had helped them. God favoured the poor, and those who were wealthy were expected to spend their money in recruiting these supernatural advocates.

One particularly powerful form of Penance, is to perform one of the Acts of Mercy. These bestow blessings and open us to grace whenever we do them. Use them to strengthen the soul whenever you sin, turning to the Holy Spirit, and asking for His grace to come upon you. With Grace comes strengthened Faith, Faith that strengthens your soul, and from Faith, these works will come to flow naturally from you, in time. Jesus said a person will reap what they sow. How very true it is everywhere!

According to the law of karma, every virtuous act is rewarded and every sinful act is punished in an inexorable manner similar to the laws of physics. The punishments and rewards might happen in this life or in subsequent lives but they WILL happen. There is no process of repentance or forgiveness that can affect the inevitability of the punishments and rewards.’ Even in the Hindu scriptures the law of karma is not in full control. According to the strict law of
karma, there is no scope for expiation or repentance, as everyone has to experience the consequences of their sinful actions for the sin to be destroyed.

The more a man of his own accord declares the wrong that he has done, the more he is freed from that wrong like a snake from his skin.’ In the devotional bhakti traditions, the repetition of the divine name, often on a rosary (japa), was the most popular way of wiping out wrong-doing and its effects. In the Bhagavad Gita, repentance born of love and faith wipes away all sin and no
one who comes to God with a humble heart fails to win salvation. ‘No one who worships me with loyalty-and-love is lost to Me’, says Lord Krishna.

In my opinion, bad actions corrupt the character and these people bring judgement upon themselves. People who tell a lie often have to tell more lies to cover up the original untruth. In school days we were quite young to understand the meaning of forgiving and very often we would repeat, " I shall never forgive." To which our teacher would reply softly, "Then I hope, ladies, you never sin."

The sayings of Mahatma Gandhi is so very apt these days: " I remember that all through history, the way of truth and Love has always won, there have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time they can seem invincible, but in the end they always fall."