Kindness of being
We live in hazardous times wherein man’s cruelty to man has reached epic proportions. Not a day passes without news of violence reaching our ears. Man’s sane voice of reason has given way to a mentality of destruction. His beastly instincts have overpowered his inherent virtues, making him commit acts of violence without any qualms or guilt. The loss of innumerable lives and destruction to property are its consequences bringing good to none and sorrow to all. Man’s survival instincts are legendary, but his virtues are not. Martin Luther King was right when he said ‘Man’s material progress has outstripped Man’s spiritual progress.We have guided missiles but misguided men.’.It is in such times of despair and adversity that small acts of virtue, which at other times are lost in the business of living and earning one’s keep, can offer solace and make a great difference that could turn the course of our lives for the better.
In our passage through life there are several occasions when our acts of kindness, generosity & honesty are called into question. A blind man trying to cross the road needs us to guide him across, a schoolboy returning from school needs our lift back home on the way, a coolie needs our helping hand to lift his burden onto his head, a crying child needs our shoulders to rest his head on, a stranger who has lost his way needs our directions to his destination, a hungry man needs us to feed him, an accident victim needs our timely help in reaching the hospital, an old woman needs our kind words of solace before she passes away, a man who has lost everything to terror needs our words of encouragement and support to start life afresh. What a pity it would be if these moments find us unprepared, unavailable, unequipped or unmindful to act the good Samaritan that would be our privilege.
A little kindness here, a little generosity there, can work wonders on people in need and can mean the difference between life and death. It can forge permanent friendships and bonds of love and emotion, not to talk of enduring relationships. It can mend psyches and erase scars.It can soothe pains and cure ills. It can give people that much needed dose of optimism and hope that not all is lost, and that there are people who care. It can provide the strength to bear losses and start life anew from scratch.Good deeds by their very nature are infectious and inspiring, and therefore can benefit humanity all over.They serve as a tonic to our minds.There is nothing to be lost by a kind word here or a good act there, but everything to be gained. Like love, good deeds too begets good deeds. It can show children the right path forward and lend meaning and purpose to otherwise dull and defeated lives.
Let us do some soul searching. Let us not forget that we gave the world the apostle of non violence. Let us make it our creed without compromising on our security or portraying it as our weakness.. Let us impress upon the advocates of violence that it is self destructive and that an eye for an eye will only turn the whole world blind. Let us make this world worth living, a world where love and compassion are not rare commodities but which is there in every human breath.
We live in hazardous times wherein man’s cruelty to man has reached epic proportions. Not a day passes without news of violence reaching our ears. Man’s sane voice of reason has given way to a mentality of destruction. His beastly instincts have overpowered his inherent virtues, making him commit acts of violence without any qualms or guilt. The loss of innumerable lives and destruction to property are its consequences bringing good to none and sorrow to all. Man’s survival instincts are legendary, but his virtues are not. Martin Luther King was right when he said ‘Man’s material progress has outstripped Man’s spiritual progress.We have guided missiles but misguided men.’.It is in such times of despair and adversity that small acts of virtue, which at other times are lost in the business of living and earning one’s keep, can offer solace and make a great difference that could turn the course of our lives for the better.
In our passage through life there are several occasions when our acts of kindness, generosity & honesty are called into question. A blind man trying to cross the road needs us to guide him across, a schoolboy returning from school needs our lift back home on the way, a coolie needs our helping hand to lift his burden onto his head, a crying child needs our shoulders to rest his head on, a stranger who has lost his way needs our directions to his destination, a hungry man needs us to feed him, an accident victim needs our timely help in reaching the hospital, an old woman needs our kind words of solace before she passes away, a man who has lost everything to terror needs our words of encouragement and support to start life afresh. What a pity it would be if these moments find us unprepared, unavailable, unequipped or unmindful to act the good Samaritan that would be our privilege.
A little kindness here, a little generosity there, can work wonders on people in need and can mean the difference between life and death. It can forge permanent friendships and bonds of love and emotion, not to talk of enduring relationships. It can mend psyches and erase scars.It can soothe pains and cure ills. It can give people that much needed dose of optimism and hope that not all is lost, and that there are people who care. It can provide the strength to bear losses and start life anew from scratch.Good deeds by their very nature are infectious and inspiring, and therefore can benefit humanity all over.They serve as a tonic to our minds.There is nothing to be lost by a kind word here or a good act there, but everything to be gained. Like love, good deeds too begets good deeds. It can show children the right path forward and lend meaning and purpose to otherwise dull and defeated lives.
Let us do some soul searching. Let us not forget that we gave the world the apostle of non violence. Let us make it our creed without compromising on our security or portraying it as our weakness.. Let us impress upon the advocates of violence that it is self destructive and that an eye for an eye will only turn the whole world blind. Let us make this world worth living, a world where love and compassion are not rare commodities but which is there in every human breath.
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