Daya (Punjabi: ਦਯਾ or ਦਇਆ, pronunciation: [d̪eɪäː], meaning compassion) is a fundamental teaching of the Sikh religion and teachings. The other four fundamental qualities are truth (sat), contentment (santokh), humility (nimrata) and love (pyaar). These five qualities are essential to a Sikh and it is their duty to meditate and recite the Gurbani so that these virtues become a part of their mind.
The importance of daya can be seen from the following Shabads from Guru Granth Sahib:
You have no compassion; the Lord’s Light does not shine in you.
You are drowned, drowned in worldly entanglements. (4)
Daya says to not ignore tragedies that take place in the world but to face them head-on and do whatever is possible within one's means. As a Sikh one must feel the pain and suffering of other people involved in any tragedy.
Above adapted from article By J. S. Neki
Original source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daya (Sikhism).
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