A compassionate heart
March 2015
“There is no need for temples ,no need for complicated philosophies. My brain and my heart are my temples and my philosophy is kindness.” says Dalai Lama
ow do we want to be remembered as after we die? A millionaire? A doctor? A politician… or simply a kind soul? Its the small deeds of kindness and generosity, the softness of ones heart that is always remembered. A small act of kindness touches our heart in such a way that even in the grimmest of times they leave us with a ray of hope and give us the power to move on. On the contrary any act done to us gives us the strength to return it or be kind in similar situations.
12 years back my father met with a near to death accident,2 young girls going to college carried him to the hospital and informed us. The bag with 50 thousand cash was returned to us untouched. I can never forget that feeling of gratefulness and heartfelt thanks I felt for those 2 young women. We could not help thanking them enough. From that time on my brother and me have never ignored a road accident and tried to help whenever possible.
What is kindness?
It is the act of helping a person out of any circumstance. It can be as small as offering water to a thirsty rickshawallah in scorching summer heat or feeding a stray dog or reading newspaper to an old aged relative. Kindness is our very own attitude in daily life towards others. It make us leave our own green pastures and ego. To step in someone else’s shoes and understand rather than being judgmental. It is the very root of our basic human nature.
We are born with the very nature of being kind. But it is with the harshness of time and the layers of heart hurting experiences and fraudulent people which stop us from being kind in the later stages of life. God made men to help each other and coexist with peace. But in today’s big bad world we think twice before helping. Its the bad experiences which scar our hearts and stop us.
Art of Giving
As humans,it is our basic need to feel loved and wanted. It is the very heart full of kindness that helps us in feeling so. It is so much believed that to overcome your own pain,its the best to show compassion to others. When you do voluntary work, the reward centre of your brain pumps out ‘endogenous opioids’, the natural versions of morphine and heroin, which in turn produce the mood-elevating neurotransmitter dopamine.
Dopamine and the hormone oxytocin give you a natural high, often referred to as ‘helpers’ high’.
It was with the ill and suffering, did Mother Teresa found solace.
Its the very fire of kindness burning in their hearts which makes people join NGO's and Red cross so that they can
tend the suffering and feel at peace.
Nurture Kindness and compassion
Kindness, compassion, thoughtfulness are the ways by which we will feel enriched
as human beings.
In the end its the smallest acts of kindness and not a multi-crore palatial house
which will give us peace.
Kindness inspite of being our basic nature must be taught to our kids in regular
routine,be it even sharing their lunch box or planting a tree or feeding a stray dog.
In relationships,neighborhood,society it must be followed. A smile,a peck on the cheek,a helping hand,a gaze full of love....
gestures,words,actions all must show our compassion for each other.
Not only amongst us,but our thoughtful-ness must also be towards animals and plants.
It will be our contribution to a better world.