Season of Souls Paryushan Day 4 – Compassion in Action: The Gift of Giving Across Faiths

By the fourth day of Paryushan, the call to compassion becomes tangible through the practice of dāna (charity). Reflection and fasting are incomplete unless they awaken kindness in action. Interestingly, this spirit of generosity is equally central to Catholic Lent and Islamic Muharram, where almsgiving transforms personal discipline into collective care.

1. Paryushan (Jainism) – Dāna as an Expression of Ahimsa

In Jainism, compassion is not just a feeling—it is lived through dāna, the selfless sharing of food, resources, or knowledge. During Paryushan, Jains often extend generosity toward monks, nuns, and the needy, ensuring that fasting does not isolate but connects. Dāna is rooted in ahimsa, reminding us that relieving another’s suffering is an act of non-violence in its highest form.

2. Lent (Christianity) – Almsgiving as Love in Action

Lent is often summarized by three pillars: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Christians are encouraged not only to give up luxuries but to give to the poor. Charity (caritas) is understood as the outward expression of divine love. By feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and supporting the marginalized, believers embody Christ’s commandment to “love thy neighbor as thyself.”

3. Muharram (Islam) – Charity as Remembrance and Solidarity

Muharram, especially the Day of Ashura, inspires Muslims to acts of sadaqah (voluntary charity) and khidmah (service). In memory of Imam Hussain’s sacrifice, communities often organize free food distributions (langars), water stalls, and support for the poor. Charity here becomes a living memorial—an act of solidarity with the oppressed and an affirmation that justice requires compassion.

4. Shared Wisdom in Compassion

Charity as Spiritual Discipline: Giving tempers ego and reminds us that nothing we own is truly ours. Service to the Vulnerable: Each tradition directs compassion toward those most in need—hungry, poor, or marginalized. Love Beyond Boundaries: True charity extends not just to one’s own community, but to all who suffer, without distinction.

5. Why This Matters for Cohesion

Generosity unites us beyond borders. When Jains, Christians, and Muslims practice compassion through giving, they affirm a universal truth: that we are custodians, not owners, of what we have. Compassion transforms inner purification into outer harmony, linking personal renewal with social justice.

As Paryushan unfolds, may we remember that fasting is hollow without feeding another, and prayer is incomplete without love expressed in action.

Michhami Dukkadam.