While reading this piece, three quotes came to mind. Gandhi said his religion is kindness. What better religion could there be? Henry James said, "Three things in human life are important. The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. The third is to be kind." If we just get one right we'll be in good shape. And Jesus said what you do to the least of people, you do to me. That's a powerful and profound statement. For me, it's true that kindness includes everything, and it's based on our being one, which Jesus knew and stated in various ways. It follows for us to be kind to all things plants, animals, all people, and self. What we do to any we do to all. I don't think it's built in or Darwinian that we're central to the universe, we're separate from the universe, and we're permanent. I think many peoples, including our American Indians, have known otherwise. Actually, my intuition seems to say to be kind, and it's my thinking, my selfishness, my hurry that get in the way of my being kind more often. Knowing that all that is is one and is sacred, reminding myself of that, saying it to myself often helps me root myself in kindness, though the roots are still shallow.
On Dec 21, 2014 david doane wrote :
While reading this piece, three quotes came to mind. Gandhi said his religion is kindness. What better religion could there be? Henry James said, "Three things in human life are important. The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. The third is to be kind." If we just get one right we'll be in good shape. And Jesus said what you do to the least of people, you do to me. That's a powerful and profound statement. For me, it's true that kindness includes everything, and it's based on our being one, which Jesus knew and stated in various ways. It follows for us to be kind to all things plants, animals, all people, and self. What we do to any we do to all. I don't think it's built in or Darwinian that we're central to the universe, we're separate from the universe, and we're permanent. I think many peoples, including our American Indians, have known otherwise. Actually, my intuition seems to say to be kind, and it's my thinking, my selfishness, my hurry that get in the way of my being kind more often. Knowing that all that is is one and is sacred, reminding myself of that, saying it to myself often helps me root myself in kindness, though the roots are still shallow.