One of the highlights of our son Tim’s four years at Middlebury College was the visit of the DALAI LAMA. In the Q and A time after his presentation, someone asked him —“How can we best create peace in our world?” His answer: “Go home and teach kindness to your children.“ “Love and compassion are not luxuries — without them humanity cannot survive…” he said… “This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is KINDNESS.” Read this story of kindness in action:
Shahzeb Anwer lives in Pakistan. When he discovered that he needed surgery not available there, he was relieved to learn that the University of Alabama at Birmingham could provide it! — but he had never traveled outside of his native country. He went on social media to request any information that could help him acclimate when he arrived.
“People responded in a way that I wouldn’t even expect from my own people in Pakistan!“ He said, one person, Birmingham native Andrew Harris, became a particular champion for him — helping with transportation, showing him around, helping with medical appointments, taking him out to eat etc., saying “I have gained a new friend … a friend for life…”
When Shahzeb returned to Pakistan, he was so grateful, that when he was about to be married, he used social media again and invited the entire city of Birmingham to attend his wedding. “They treated me as their favored son,“ he said. And the amazing thing about being kind is that it not only makes others feel loved and cared for, but it enlarges our own spirit and helps US to gain inner happiness and peace as well! It gives meaning and value to our life, raises us above our own troubles and connects us to the best within ourselves …. It’s a WIN - WIN!!
Conversely, if we allow ourselves to give in to lives of self-centeredness thinking only of “what’s in it for ME?” our spirits will inevitably just dry up…
The choice is up to us. Contemporary composer Mark Hayes has composed a piece called THE POWER OF KINDNESS (click here to listen and read along; allow the words of the text to sink in …)
“I believe in the power of kindness, I believe in the power of love, when I live from a place of compassion, life is better for everyone…”
YES!!!!