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The Kindness Box
- Thread starter Knight of Albion
- Start date
Geoff-Allen
Resident megalomaniac
Geoff-Allen
Resident megalomaniac
Try - Pema Chodron loving kindness quotes
It is said that we can’t attain enlightenment, let alone feel contentment and joy, without seeing who we are and what we do, without seeing our patterns and habits. This is called maitri—developing loving-kindness and an unconditional friendship with ourselves.
The most difficult times for many of us are the ones we give ourselves. Yet it’s never too late or too early to practice loving-kindness. It’s as if we had a terminal disease but might live for quite a while. Not knowing how much time we have left, we might begin to think it was important to make friends with ourselves and others in the remaining hours, months, or years.
48 of the Best Pema Chödrön Quotes for Difficult Times — Always Well Within
More of Pema in next post ...
Plus visit her site - a bunch of free stuff including a pdf - almost NO need to buy her books but I do recommend them ...
Articles
Cheeers!
It is said that we can’t attain enlightenment, let alone feel contentment and joy, without seeing who we are and what we do, without seeing our patterns and habits. This is called maitri—developing loving-kindness and an unconditional friendship with ourselves.
The most difficult times for many of us are the ones we give ourselves. Yet it’s never too late or too early to practice loving-kindness. It’s as if we had a terminal disease but might live for quite a while. Not knowing how much time we have left, we might begin to think it was important to make friends with ourselves and others in the remaining hours, months, or years.
48 of the Best Pema Chödrön Quotes for Difficult Times — Always Well Within
More of Pema in next post ...
Plus visit her site - a bunch of free stuff including a pdf - almost NO need to buy her books but I do recommend them ...
Articles
Cheeers!
Geoff-Allen
Resident megalomaniac
A review and excerpt from one of Pema's books -
"When people start to meditate or to work with any kind of spiritual discipline, they often think that somehow they're going to improve, which is a sort of subtle aggression against who they really are. It's a bit like saying, 'If I jog, I'll be a much better person.' ' If I could only get a nicer house, I'd be a better person.' ' If I could meditate and calm down, I'd be a better person.' Or the scenario may be that they find fault with others; they might say, 'If it weren't for my husband, I'd have a perfect marriage.' 'If it weren't for the fact that my boss and I can't get on, my job would be just great.' And 'If it weren't for my mind, my meditation would be excellent.'
"But lovingkindness — maitri — toward ourselves doesn't mean getting rid of anything. Maitri means that we can still be crazy after all these years. We can still be angry after all these years. We can still be timid or jealous or full of feelings of unworthiness. The point is not to try to change ourselves. Meditation practice isn't about trying to throw ourselves away and become something better. It's about befriending who we are already. The ground of practice is you or me or whoever we are right now, just as we are. That's the ground, that's what we study, that's what we come to know with tremendous curiosity and interest."
The Wisdom of No Escape by Pema Chodron | Book Excerpt | Spirituality & Practice
"When people start to meditate or to work with any kind of spiritual discipline, they often think that somehow they're going to improve, which is a sort of subtle aggression against who they really are. It's a bit like saying, 'If I jog, I'll be a much better person.' ' If I could only get a nicer house, I'd be a better person.' ' If I could meditate and calm down, I'd be a better person.' Or the scenario may be that they find fault with others; they might say, 'If it weren't for my husband, I'd have a perfect marriage.' 'If it weren't for the fact that my boss and I can't get on, my job would be just great.' And 'If it weren't for my mind, my meditation would be excellent.'
"But lovingkindness — maitri — toward ourselves doesn't mean getting rid of anything. Maitri means that we can still be crazy after all these years. We can still be angry after all these years. We can still be timid or jealous or full of feelings of unworthiness. The point is not to try to change ourselves. Meditation practice isn't about trying to throw ourselves away and become something better. It's about befriending who we are already. The ground of practice is you or me or whoever we are right now, just as we are. That's the ground, that's what we study, that's what we come to know with tremendous curiosity and interest."
The Wisdom of No Escape by Pema Chodron | Book Excerpt | Spirituality & Practice
Geoff-Allen
Resident megalomaniac
These quotes are from Harold Klemp -
"When our hearts are open to God's love, then the divine power can use us as an instrument to pass divine love and blessings along to others."
"Once you've established the correct relationship between yourself and God, then you are able to go back out into the world and serve all God's creatures. And you will serve with love, kindness, compassion and understanding."
"When our hearts are open to God's love, then the divine power can use us as an instrument to pass divine love and blessings along to others."
"Once you've established the correct relationship between yourself and God, then you are able to go back out into the world and serve all God's creatures. And you will serve with love, kindness, compassion and understanding."
Geoff-Allen
Resident megalomaniac
Geoff-Allen
Resident megalomaniac
If we simply measure our spiritual progress by whether we are sharing more or giving more, our barometer is off, because those things can happen without any internal change. Kabbalists teach that the purpose of life is to transform our Desire to Receive into the Desire to Share. True sharing is when we don’t hesitate to run an errand for an ill friend, or assist a co-worker who has more work than he can handle. We do it joyfully, because we are excited by the opportunity to help others. We don’t even see it as spiritual work, but as a blessing. Attitude makes all the difference.
Comes from this site -
The Desire to Help: Why Kindness Matters
Comes from this site -
The Desire to Help: Why Kindness Matters
Geoff-Allen
Resident megalomaniac
Found a Kabbalah site that has a few interesting pages -
<i>Chesed, Gevura, & Tiferet</i> - Harmonizing kindness and strength.
The word chesed means kindness or benevolence. It denotes the unbounded loving-kindness with which G‑d created the worlds and with which all of creation is permeated, as the verse states, "The world was built with chesed" (Psalms 89:3).
Kabbala explains that kindness was, in fact, the reason for the Creation. Since G‑d's "nature" is absolute benevolence and loving-kindness, He created the worlds so that He would have upon whom to bestow His kindness, as is written in Etz Chaim, "It is the nature of He who is good to do good."
Enjoy!
<i>Chesed, Gevura, & Tiferet</i> - Harmonizing kindness and strength.
The word chesed means kindness or benevolence. It denotes the unbounded loving-kindness with which G‑d created the worlds and with which all of creation is permeated, as the verse states, "The world was built with chesed" (Psalms 89:3).
Kabbala explains that kindness was, in fact, the reason for the Creation. Since G‑d's "nature" is absolute benevolence and loving-kindness, He created the worlds so that He would have upon whom to bestow His kindness, as is written in Etz Chaim, "It is the nature of He who is good to do good."
Enjoy!
Geoff-Allen
Resident megalomaniac
To prove I have no favourites ...
Kindness Christianity -
Kindness is underrated. We equate it with being nice or pleasant, as though it’s mainly about smiling, getting along, and not ruffling feathers. It seems a rather mundane virtue.
But the Bible presents a very different, and compelling, portrait of kindness.
From this site -
Kindness Changes Everything
All the best!
Kindness Christianity -
Kindness is underrated. We equate it with being nice or pleasant, as though it’s mainly about smiling, getting along, and not ruffling feathers. It seems a rather mundane virtue.
But the Bible presents a very different, and compelling, portrait of kindness.
From this site -
Kindness Changes Everything
All the best!
Geoff-Allen
Resident megalomaniac
I had never given serious thought to the revolutionary power of kindness until my father died. Then I started paying attention to the stories told about him. He wasn’t quickly forgotten. His gentle influence rippled on and continues to ripple on. The stories were neither about his commanding leadership nor about his well-known status. He didn’t start a company, earn much money, make the news, hold public office or write a book. No one would have drafted his Wikipedia page.
The stories were about his spirit of kindness. His influence ran deep and wide, showing up in kindness lavished liberally. He was wildly welcoming, epic in life because he was epic in love.
Read more -
The Radical Call of Kindness « Biola Magazine
The stories were about his spirit of kindness. His influence ran deep and wide, showing up in kindness lavished liberally. He was wildly welcoming, epic in life because he was epic in love.
Read more -
The Radical Call of Kindness « Biola Magazine
Geoff-Allen
Resident megalomaniac
I’m not sure I’ve ever met a person who does not want kindness. In today’s society, people generally agree that more kindness would make the world a better place. But what exactly is it? Where does it come from? What does it do?
Definitions of this word often associate the word with being friendly, generous, and considerate. While this may be helpful, these three terms can fail to depict the full nature of what kindness looks like. Here are five things the Bible reveals about kindness rooted in Christ, which gives the term some needed substance:
5 Surprising Truths about Biblical Kindness | Unlocking the Bible
Enjoy your day!
Definitions of this word often associate the word with being friendly, generous, and considerate. While this may be helpful, these three terms can fail to depict the full nature of what kindness looks like. Here are five things the Bible reveals about kindness rooted in Christ, which gives the term some needed substance:
5 Surprising Truths about Biblical Kindness | Unlocking the Bible
Enjoy your day!
Geoff-Allen
Resident megalomaniac
"You're a whole lot nicer to people at church than you are to me sometimes." Hump! That's hard to take, precisely because it's so often true. Why do we discard any attempt at kindness when we kick off our shoes at home? People at church expect us to conform to a certain standard of friendliness. By the same token we can't get ahead in the marketplace being nasty, even to obnoxious people. But at home, that's different. Husband and wife live close together. Differences and conflicts are inevitable. Frustrations linger unresolved. We know each other all too well. Why affect a veneer of kindness? Less-than-kind behavior at home may result from a deliberate rejection of kindness. When it comes to a showdown over some petty issue, kindness doesn't strike us as forceful enough to hold our ground. It seems effeminate, weak, indulgent, even lenient. We appear to get more mileage from counter-attack, parry and thrust. So the fruit of the Spirit drops to the ground, victim to more "useful" tactics. Yet, if we confuse kindness with weakness, we miss out on the muscle of Biblical kindness to reign in our runaway anger.
Kindness Begins at Home - Christian Articles Archive
Cheers!
Kindness Begins at Home - Christian Articles Archive
Cheers!
Geoff-Allen
Resident megalomaniac
Make a special effort to be kind to others, especially those that wait on us in restaurants. Smile at the clerk that checks us out in stores. Say a kind word to those who accept our money in the toll booth. Opportunities abound for kindness.
Kindness as a Spiritual Practice - Healthy Spirituality
Plus scroll down to a few quotes - many are already some-where in this thread?
Kindness as a Spiritual Practice - Healthy Spirituality
Plus scroll down to a few quotes - many are already some-where in this thread?
Geoff-Allen
Resident megalomaniac
Everything and everyone in this universe is connected. When you help another, you help yourself. When we help you, we help ourselves. It is a beautiful cycle and one that will continue, even after the shift is completed. Being kind to another person is an acknowledgement that we are all together in this. It is also an acknowledgement of our connection, and it is an expression of the love that binds us all together.
You give so much through one simple act of kindness, and it does not matter whether anyone else knows about it. The important thing is that you know about it, and you can continue to express your awakened self, over and over again. And it does not matter whether the other person or people know just how awakened you are.
Kindness is Spirituality ∞The 9th Dimensional Arcturian Council
You give so much through one simple act of kindness, and it does not matter whether anyone else knows about it. The important thing is that you know about it, and you can continue to express your awakened self, over and over again. And it does not matter whether the other person or people know just how awakened you are.
Kindness is Spirituality ∞The 9th Dimensional Arcturian Council
Geoff-Allen
Resident megalomaniac
Each human being is a medium through which God’s magnetism flows. Do not obstruct that power through unkindness. To grow closer to God, you must be kind and loving to all. Those who fill their hearts with unkindness can never learn to love God. Love of God is drowned out when unkindness vibrates in the body temple.
Unkind words, spoken in a fit of emotion, are like a conflagration spreading over the forest of friendship, burning up all the green plants of courteous dealings and sympathetic thoughts. Banish unkind words forever, and protect your life from the invasion of trouble and sudden partings.
Heartfelt kindness is liberating. When you experience deep kindness in your heart, you are at peace inwardly and see everything as part of God. You accept all things without judgment, and look with kindness and sympathy on everyone, no matter how wrong. Always be kind to others so that you may learn the art of being kind to yourself.
Kindness: Foundation of the Spiritual Life — Ananda
Cheers!
Unkind words, spoken in a fit of emotion, are like a conflagration spreading over the forest of friendship, burning up all the green plants of courteous dealings and sympathetic thoughts. Banish unkind words forever, and protect your life from the invasion of trouble and sudden partings.
Heartfelt kindness is liberating. When you experience deep kindness in your heart, you are at peace inwardly and see everything as part of God. You accept all things without judgment, and look with kindness and sympathy on everyone, no matter how wrong. Always be kind to others so that you may learn the art of being kind to yourself.
Kindness: Foundation of the Spiritual Life — Ananda
Cheers!
Geoff-Allen
Resident megalomaniac
Let's shoot for 2000 posts in this thread ... several from this site -
Kindness Quotes (3295 quotes)
“If your understanding of the divine made you kinder, more empathetic, and impelled you to express sympathy in concrete acts of loving-kindness, this was good theology. But if your notion of God made you unkind, belligerent, cruel, of self-righteous, or if it led you to kill in God's name, it was bad theology. ”
Karen Armstrong
Kindness Quotes (3295 quotes)
“If your understanding of the divine made you kinder, more empathetic, and impelled you to express sympathy in concrete acts of loving-kindness, this was good theology. But if your notion of God made you unkind, belligerent, cruel, of self-righteous, or if it led you to kill in God's name, it was bad theology. ”
Karen Armstrong
Geoff-Allen
Resident megalomaniac
“Give freely to the world these gifts of love and compassion. Do not concern yourself with how much you receive in return, just know in your heart it will be returned.”
Steve Maraboli
Steve Maraboli
Geoff-Allen
Resident megalomaniac
“Kindness has no religion. Religions are like narrow tracks but kindness is like an open sky.”
Amit Ray
Amit Ray
Geoff-Allen
Resident megalomaniac
Here is number 2000 -
“Each smallest act of kindness, reverberates across great distances and spans of time - affecting lives unknown to the one whose generous spirit, was the source of this good echo. Because kindness is passed on and grows each time it’s passed until a simple courtesy becomes an act of selfless courage, years later, and far away. Likewise, each small meanness, each expression of hatred, each act of evil.”
Dean Koontz
Enjoy the rest of your time here at the forum!
“Each smallest act of kindness, reverberates across great distances and spans of time - affecting lives unknown to the one whose generous spirit, was the source of this good echo. Because kindness is passed on and grows each time it’s passed until a simple courtesy becomes an act of selfless courage, years later, and far away. Likewise, each small meanness, each expression of hatred, each act of evil.”
Dean Koontz
Enjoy the rest of your time here at the forum!