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Online since 1999

An analysis of kindness

9/12/2022

8 Comments

 
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[11.29] The soldiers do not have wealth, but not because they dislike material goods; they do not live long, but not because they dislike longevity. 

[11.30] On the day the men are issued orders to do battle, their tears will roll down their cheeks and soak their sleeves. 

[11.31] However, if you throw them into a dire situation, they will have the courage of Chuan Chu or Ts'ao Kuei.

Sun Tzu's The Art of War
Today I would like to discuss the topic of kindness.

But I think it's important I define what kindness actually is, and what it isn't.

Kindness isn't superficial greetings and simple gestures, like saying "Good morning," opening doors for people, picking up our own trash, not stealing, donating our surpluses, being understanding of mean people, and other similar actions. They are behaviors of maturity and necessary for organizations, communities, and societies to function properly. 

Kindness is helping someone even when it is most inconvenient to us. Kindness is helping someone even when there is a real cost to us. Kindness is going out of our way to help because someone is suffering. (Whether they are truly suffering is another matter for another day.)

So kindness can come from the poorest of the poor and the weakest of the weak to the richest of the rich and the strongest of the strong. Kindness can come from anywhere by anyone at anytime. 

In other words, we may have little left or a lot more but we unhesitatingly help, cutting through all our greed and selfishness. This is true strength. We are strong not because of what we have but who we are. The producer is much more valuable than the product. This is how men and women rise to the level of gods. And gods are immortal for a reason.

Therefore, seriously consider where we want to go. How and whether or not we'll succeed are inevitable because both are pre-determined by the kind of person we choose to be when we make that decision. ☯
8 Comments
Bill H
9/12/2022 11:19:50 am

You have hit the essential component of true kindness, "Kindness is helping someone even when it is most inconvenient to us. Kindness is helping someone even when there is a real cost to us." Anyone can give from surplus. Thank you.

Reply
Thomas C Huynh
9/12/2022 11:29:19 am

Yes the idea is an old one but some forget, me included. There were times when I got upset about people not appreciating my kindness, but the problem wasn't with them but with me. I was expecting something in return (their appreciation). Kindness is about doing the deed because it is worth doing all by itself.

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Boyd
9/12/2022 05:45:39 pm

I am reminded of two Monks, who were traveling to another monastery. They came to a small river that was up because of recent rains, the foot stones were under water. There was a young lady of means standing on the bank wanting across. One Monk picked her up and carried her across then set her down and they continued on their way. Some distance down the path, the other Monk asked "why did you carry that woman across the river?" The first Monk replied, "Why are you still carrying her?".

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Thomas C Huynh
9/13/2022 04:45:23 am

Is it because monks aren’t supposed to touch women?

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Trey Davis
9/13/2022 04:46:36 am

Wonderful reminder Thomas. The throes of our lives tend to steal us away from important actions such as the ones you mentioned. It is all about altruism. Taking ourselves out of the equation and focusing on the needs of others. The kindness you speak of is one of the elements that will lead to peace of mind.

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Thomas C Huynh
9/13/2022 01:47:36 pm

Our heart's ease is based on how often we allow our heart decide.

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Boyd
9/13/2022 11:09:22 am

Tom, you should know better. That is an old Zen proverb, if I have to explain, I won`t. I couldn`t reply to your comment because the window for reply did not show the reCAPTCHA enough to click on it.

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Thomas C Huynh
9/13/2022 01:49:36 pm

That was Zen, this is Tao.

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