In an earlier post, I had raised whether we need to be involved in the affairs of the world, as in the Puranas we see Gods go against Asuras and wipe them out, or stand aside and watch, as many saints in recent times tend to have us do, asking us to accept what goes on. Even the Siddhas are said to bring our pleas to Lord Brahma and have him change the fate of their devotees. Closer to home, we have seen Agathiyar plead on our behalf to Lord Shiva to change the direction and state of matters at hand.
Flipping through John Bowker's book, "Beliefs That Changed The World - The History And Ideas Of The Great Religions", published by Quercus Editions Ltd, London, 2007, I came to know that the aim of the Arhats (who are free from any basis for reappearance and who have, in effect, reached the goal) in the Theravadins and those of the Mahayana Buddhism vary. If the former "attain the goal but leave others behind them", the latter, in asking, "How can that be an exercise in the fundamental Buddhist virtue of compassion?", choose to "develop the belief that those on the last step of the way turn back to help anyone in the world who is still in ignorance, pain, or suffering. These figures are known as Bodhisattvas, Enlightenment beings who make a vow that they will not enter Nirvana while they know of anyone who needs their help."
Similarly, while some Jeevan Muktas (said to have attained enlightenment and Mukti, or Salvation, while living) choose to leave, others choose to stay behind to help the remaining souls further their evolution. Swami Vivekananda and Bharathi are also said to have taken the latter stand. This helped me to understand why I have carried a similar nature to cry and care for the suffering since my bachelor days until now. If, on the one hand, I tend to give up on others and want to go my way, on the other hand, I am held back by the thought of the responsibility of bringing others to the fold or TiruKootam too. I fully understand my role and purpose in coming as a Spiritual Catalyst.