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It’s easy, and perhaps natural, to underestimate our acts of kindness and be left wondering whether they actually make any difference. The Buddha recognized we humans think this way, so he cautioned: “Do not overlook tiny good actions, thinking they are of no benefit; even tiny drops of water in the end will fill a huge vessel. Do not overlook negative actions merely because they are small; however small a spark may be, it can burn down a haystack as big as a mountain.”
-Victor M Parachin, "How to Practice Compassion the Buddhist Way," Spirituality & Health
-Victor M Parachin, "How to Practice Compassion the Buddhist Way," Spirituality & Health
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Many elementary schools post "Rules for Kindness" to guide the children. . . placed on a wall that students walk by several times a day.
- Be kind and gentle in all things
- Respect others
- Everyone gets to play
- No violence in word or deed
- No put downs, only pull ups
- No exclusive behavior ("you can't play with us")
- Treat people the way you want to treated
- Don't hurt others on the inside or the outside
- Help others when they need help
- Treat everybody with kindness
-Victor M Parachin, Think Like the Buddha
- Be kind and gentle in all things
- Respect others
- Everyone gets to play
- No violence in word or deed
- No put downs, only pull ups
- No exclusive behavior ("you can't play with us")
- Treat people the way you want to treated
- Don't hurt others on the inside or the outside
- Help others when they need help
- Treat everybody with kindness
-Victor M Parachin, Think Like the Buddha
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Before beginning the meditation, remember to take a few deep inhalations and exhalations and then return to normal breathing.
1. Light a candle . . . gaze at it . . . let the light symbolize those who have been kind/good to you.
2. Begin to think of them, one at a time, and the kind ways they treated you--family members, friends, teachers, clergy, strangers . . .
3. As you think of them, quietly use their names, one at a time, saying, "Jim, thank you for being kind to me. Jim, may others be as kind to you . . ."
4. Silently think about someone to whom you can bestow kindness tomorrow or in the next few days.
-Victor M Parachin, Sit a Bit
1. Light a candle . . . gaze at it . . . let the light symbolize those who have been kind/good to you.
2. Begin to think of them, one at a time, and the kind ways they treated you--family members, friends, teachers, clergy, strangers . . .
3. As you think of them, quietly use their names, one at a time, saying, "Jim, thank you for being kind to me. Jim, may others be as kind to you . . ."
4. Silently think about someone to whom you can bestow kindness tomorrow or in the next few days.
-Victor M Parachin, Sit a Bit