Vedic Community Forum

A few days ago, while on a family trip in Italy, I came across five tiny puppies living under a staircase – cold, covered in mites, helpless and alone.The restaurant owners fed them, but not properly, and my heart broke seeing their condition. I bought puppy food and a small bed, yet we had to fly home soon after.

Since then, I can’t stop crying. I feel shame, guilt, helplessness and at the same time, a boundless love that has nowhere to go. I prayed, but I didn’t know exactly to whom, so I turned to the Divine Mother and begged her to take care of them. And then came the inner conflict:

I’m a mother myself, with my own children and responsibilities.

But where does my responsibility end? When is my compassion “enough”?

How do we balance empathy with surrender? The impulse to act, and the trust in the Divine play (Leela)? On the plane, I wrote a small prayer (or perhaps it was more of a conversation with the Mother herself): Mother, you came to me

Breaking my heart

through the eyes of a puppy

Tears streaming down my cheeks

Drowning in guilt and shame

You remembered me

of my hearts unlimited capacity

I wish I could give my love

To everyone in need

But mother who am I to think

This is not your own priority

You teach me compassion

You love through my hands

I beg you oh mother

Take care of my friend

Behold your innocent

Beautiful child

Forgive me oh mother

I did not act as though they were mine

I beg you, oh please

grant me your strength

guide all my actions

With your sacred command

I bow down to you Trying to trust

Your Leela, your plan I’m sharing this here because I am sure many of you have felt this same ache: the desire to help, to save, to ease suffering… yet the deep knowing that we can’t fix it all.

From a Vedic perspective, how do we understand this boundary? When is it our dharma to act, and when are we asked to surrender and trust that the Mother cares for all her children in ways we cannot always see? P.S. I’m still in touch with the property owners, so if anyone happens to be in Italy, wants to help themself or knows someone who could help these little souls, please reach out. I’d love to find a way to support them.