Ways to Bring Kindness to All

Over time, offering lovingkindness to all beings everywhere, including ourselves, unites us to one another, so that we know we cannot go forward forgetting those left behind. We cannot experience true happiness without the development of kindness and compassion.

Fold these ways of bringing kindness to all into your life:

1. Before a meal, take a moment and reflect on those far-flung people involved in your enjoying that meal–the people who grew it, the people who transported it, stored it, and prepared it.

2. Before a meal, reflect on the earth, and the sun and rain and all that nourished that food so it could nourish you.

3. Think of a friend or family member who is difficult, but whom you love anyway. Examine the dynamics of that relationship and how we might care for someone and still honestly see the difficulty.

4. Stay open to surprise. Roles and relationships are constantly changing. Reflect on how we go up and we go down all the time.

5. Pay attention as you are offering help or aid to someone. What emotional or spiritual benefits are coming to you in return?

6. Practice lovingkindness meditation for all beings.

Read more: Spirit, Inspiration, compassion, kindness, lovingkindness

Adapted from The Force of Kindness, by Sharon Salzberg (Sounds True, 2005). Copyright (c) 2005 by Sharon Salzberg. Reprinted by permission of Sounds True.
Adapted from The Force of Kindness, by Sharon Salzberg (Sounds True, 2005).

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Melissah C.

4:10AM PDT on Mar 28, 2011

thanks

send a green star

ii q.

6:18PM PDT on Mar 13, 2011

mihi cura futuri

mine is the care of the future

Carolyn M.

10:03AM PST on Dec 4, 2010

To Tearsa W. posted Sept 14, 2010.

I suggest you read my story if you fell this way
of course you will be repaid for a little kindness. I am so sorry I hear such selfish ness in your comment. myabe you changed your mind sinc Sept, if not I suggest you just try to be kind just once in your life

9:58AM PST on Dec 4, 2010

so sorrry I wish I could have told my story al in one page but there isn't enough room on here so had to continue on a new page

I hope you all enjoyed my story as much as I am enjoying her and 5 kids all grown up and a new hubby for her and a nice new step dad for the kids. You bet I am crying typing this but it is tears of joy. I will be seeing them again he told me and it will be soon at christmas. I libe alone and was not going to put up a tree or any lights but now think I have good reasons to clebrate this year with a new wonderful family I only helped just a tiny wee bit many years ago. God bless all of you

9:53AM PST on Dec 4, 2010

continued from above

Then the next spring I took hr some seed for the gaden and she was gone, I went o welafre to ask where she went. because she was unde rso much protection they would not tell me bu she told them about me.

Just moments ago she came to my door with a gift of candy she made and a new hubby. She did not forget me and her hubby is a very nice man and I know he will take care of them all. I cried with relief to know she is ok cause my thoughts over the years her bad ex killed her and she was dead. so you see being kind to someone, you will alays be repaid even with a vistit as joyas as this.

9:49AM PST on Dec 4, 2010

continued from above

for those of you who read my comment above about being kind to some one. I said someday that kindness will be repaid and that they will never gorget you

I am from an abusive home but divoced
I knit really fast so that week I made 10 pairs of mitts I can make a pair that size while watching Tv in an evening. The next week I made 10 pairs of warm socks and a pair of mitts for mom

The next week I took them to her and some home made bread a bottle of jam I made the jam in Sept. Then Chrismas was coming. I knit as fast as a I could. I crocket her a sweater and made 5 pairs of mitts and 5 pairs of socks and I went to 2nd hand stores and bought enough velvet to make stockings and filled them. took then to her 2 days befote Christmas. I did this each year for the next 5 years and showed her how to make a veggie garden in summer. she lived about 90 miles from me but it was so worth the trip each time. she didn't have car so she could not visit, she was a very sweet young lady that got herself in a mess like this

Then the next spring I took her some seed for the gaden and she was gone, I went to welafre to ask where she went. because she was under so much protection they would not tell me bu she told them about me.

Just moments ago she came to my door after 20 years with a gift of candy she made and a new hubby. She did not forget me and her hubby is a very nice man and I know he will take care of them all. I cried with relief to know sh

9:43AM PST on Dec 4, 2010

for those of you who read my comment above about being kind to some one. I said someday that kindness will be repaid and that they will never gorget you

well listen to this. Many many years ago about 27, while working on my job I did travel a lot, I got lost and came upon an old farm house in late Oct. I knocked on the door for directions. I was in the middle of no where.

This little petit gal came to the door. She had been splitting wood all by herself earlier. I saw 4 little bafefoot kids wrapped around mom. She was holding a baby 10 months old.

she told me after we chatted that welafe put her there to hide from abusive ex hubby.
I lef ther feeling very depressed whrn I saw bare feet and the floors were so cold, no heat on

I am from an abusive home but divoced
I knit really fast so that week I made 10 pairs of mitts I can make a pair that size while watching Tv in an evening. The next week I made 10 pairs of warm socks and a pair of mits for mom

The nextt week I took them to her and some home made bread a bottle of jam I made the jam in Sept. Then Chrismas was coming. I knit as fast as a I could. I crocket her a sweater and made 5 pairs of mitts and 5 pairs of socks and I ent to 2nd hand stores and bought enough velvet to make stockings and filled them. took then to her 2 days befote Christmas. I did this each year for the next 5 years and showed her how to make a veggie garden in summer. she lived about 90 miles from me bu it was so woeth the tri

KS G.

6:13AM PDT on Nov 2, 2010

Thanks for the article.

6:04PM PDT on Sep 18, 2010

Oh bTW

there were at least 10 strong men in their 40's -50's passed me by and left me to fall very uncaring until this ytung man about 25 offered his help.

6:01PM PDT on Sep 18, 2010

To do something nice for another, try it, you will be surprised how good you will feel and uplift your day.

The person you do something kind for will never forget you and will return it at some point.

It need not be much but just something.

I am partly disabled. I cannot walk in the wind even with my cane. The wind blows me over. one day I got half way across the st when a strong wind came up. I just stood there half bent over , it was the only way I could hold my balance and then it was tricky. A young man came and offered to take my arm. I knew within a few seconds I would fall without this help. I was terrified. Do you have any idea how this help made me feel in this world we are in these days. I felt, someone cared. I could not thank him enough

Not only that, I saw the glow on HIS face when I thanked him and commented that his parents taught him proberly how to be a nice gentleman. There are not to many any more

BTW I am not old. I am young with a horrible disease