Learn to hold out a helping hand

This refers to TaruBahl’s write up "Sympathy and Empathy" (October 17).

According to H.G. Wells "Our true nationality is mankind" In the same tone, Terence points out "I am a man, and nothing human can be of indifference to me". It is our duty to help a fellow-being in distress, to lift the fallen, to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked and nurse the sick.

Man should realise that there is only one race on earth — the human race, that there is only one religion — the religion of humanity, that there is only one sentiment worth nourishing — the sentiment of sympathy and empathy. Lack of sympathy arises in egotism; sympathy arises in love. Sympathy, in its real sense is oneness with others in their struggles and sufferings.

VIJAY SHEEL JAIN

Ludhiana

II

Sympathy is the process of perceiving others in distress and taking steps to comfort them. Empathy is one component of sympathy, namely responding to the other person’s emotional expression. Empathy is the cornerstone of emotional intelligence. It fosters compassion and relationships with others gain new depth and meaning.

Children should be helped to develop skills and talents which will give them a feeling of satisfaction and competence and increase inter-personal skills and empathy.

Sympathy stems from childhood training in which many minor, acts of altruism, such as offering someone a lift or sharing lunch with a hungry companion, is positively reinforced.

Helping others does not go unrewarded. That is why, generosity, sympathy and empathy are judged good and worthy of cultivation.

P.L. SETHI

Patiala

Fostering discipline

This refers to "Fostering discipline" (October 3) by Pritam Bhullar. I fully endorse the writer’s views that national discipline can be improved if military service is made compulsory for our youth. The existing education system needs to change. In this highly competitive world, only properly trained persons can have a secure career. A survey reveals that Indian parents save less for their children’s education. The gap between the educated and the uneducated is wide. This is why a majority of the people have not made any progress.

PARTAP SINGH

Dasuya

Hankering after happiness

Apropos of Mohinder Singh’s article "What is the happiness pill?", the writer has prescribed "remaining busy" as an antidote to unhappiness or depression. Instead of simply "remaining busy", I feel that one’s proclivity, rather than moolah or power, should be the guiding principe, while one is deciding one’s career. A person immersed in his vocation, rarely becomes a part of "rat-race" or cut-throat competition, which causes depression.

It is only through meditation or introspection, possible only when one is with oneself, that one realises the futility of acquiring more than one’s needs. The realisation helps the feeling of satisfaction or contentment to take root, which is conducive to a stress-free life.

SANJEEV GARGISH

Chandigarh.

Perseverance leads to success

This refers to "Endurance is perseverance" by Taru Bahl. To persevere one has to endure a lot for without endurance, perseverance is not possible. According to Goethe, "There are but two roads that lead to an important goal: Strength and perseverance...". It was indeed perseverance that made Edison to invent the bulb after failing many times. Mr R.K. Narayanan, too, had to endure many hardships before he became the President of India. All of us have the power perseverance. In Goethe’s words,"...perseverance harsh and continuous, may be employed by the smallest of us and rarely fails of its purpose, for its silent power grows irresistibly greater with time".

ANSHUL GUPTA

Alampur (Sai)

Team spirit

This refers to Taru Bahl’s article ‘Developing team spirit’ we all would greatly benefit to remember that there is no "I" in "Team".

NEHA MADHOK

(Via e-mail)