Driving my daughter home from school the other day, she asked me a lovley question: “What is the best thing you ever did when you were a kid?”
~
I can not remember what I said, but I do remember very well where my mind went… namely, “kindness.” I thought of acts of kindness that I did as a kid.
~
This inspired reflection.
~
As an adult, it is the same. Smart, clever, profound…. they all fall far short of simple kindness.
~
It made me realize that all I do with the school, Mount Soma, the temple, etc. are inspired by kindness.
~
To help our world, to help humanity: these things all blossom from the seed of kindness… the best thing you can ever do.
Why does kindness feel so good to impart yet is so difficult to receive?
Hi Nancy,
The difficulty could reside in the receiver or giver or both. Kindness in the pure sense is not difficult to give or receive. It is only our issues that make the difficulty so. Kindness can also be directed to those issues. That would be called understanding. Without that understanding, kindness in the purest sense is not possible. We must all learn to be kind, not only to others, but also to ourselves. Often the latter is actually the more difficult of the two.
Very true, thank you.
This is probably not the appropriate venue for this but I don’t know what would be correct. Tanja had sent me a copy of “Angels, Einstein & You!” a while ago and I want to thank you for the opportunity to read it; it resonated on so many levels for me. It has only been the past year that I have begun really delving in to this aspect of life but have always had leanings this way & have always felt that there is a lot more to this world than we, as people, take advantage of or recognize.
Tanja also helped me to find a place nearby that teaches your Surya meditation method and has prompted me to learn more about your teachings.
I purposely read “Angels, Einstein & You!” slowly in order to “digest” it as it offered so many things to think about. While I was reading it, and (I believe) because of the meditation, I had exactly as you described, a “knee-dropping” experience. It changed my perception like a slap in the face. It was the kind of thing that you want to tell people about and share with them but you know that they’ll just think you’re crazy! I’m trying to incorporate this into life as I knew it, my main concern being “How do I keep it from slipping away?”
I just wanted to share that & look forward to learning from you and from life!
Dear Michael,
A few years ago a friend lost her daughter of fourteen from complications of epilepsy. While going through her closet, she found a list that her daughter had made titled “Things to accomplish before I die”. Number one on the list was, ” to always be kind”. We all knew that she was a beautiful talented girl who embraced life with such grace and focus. What a legacy and testament she left us all. Thank you Michael for this reminder.
Love and joy,
Sharon
Nancy, I appreciated all that you said. Where do you live that you found Surya meditation away from Mt Soma? And I enjoyed hearing of your experiences trying to follow this path. I need that.
And about Michael’s kindness blog. It was dear to me. Shopping at our local grocery I found and bought a magnet that says in big red letters where I will see it every day:
BE
KIND.
NO
EXCEP
TIONS.
by Secret Agent L…..(whoever that is)
Somehow Kindness seems even more basic and every day and real than Love.
The word Love gets muddled with fantasy.
Sue,
Right now I am in southern Rhode Island. I had heard about the Mt. Soma community & when I watched Michael’s video teaching the Surya meditation it really struck a chord, it made so much sense to me. When asked where we might find a place or people that practiced this method in our area we were referred to the “All That Matters” Yoga & Holistic Health Center in Wakefield, RI. One of the founders/owners has studied with Michael for many years and holds a monthly (Surya) meditation at “All That Matters”, with the goal of making it a weekly, group meditation.
I think it is important to make connections with people trying to follow this path, I need that as well, and I found your comment about kindness & love very interesting. Thank you for responding to my comments. Good luck in your journey.