Towards a Better World

Towards a Better World #57

8 June 2023

New post

Making room for kindness

All thoughts and actions come together. When they are kind, they strengthen a beneficial current in the world. [1]
Everyone wishes to make their contribution by cultivating positive attitudes. But how can we develop kindness in daily life when quarrels fill us with antipathy and resentment towards someone? [2]
This short extract from the “Yoga of kindness” (Le Yoga de l’Amour dans la Force, p. 45) helps us to look differently at this opponent and to defuse the situation. We can say to ourselves:

“As so-and-so is, so am I. As I am, so is he. We are both subject to suffering and death.

We are bound to the inexorable law of Life by ignorance and desire.
Both of us are subject to the law of cause and effect, and whatever wrong we do, we will suffer its effects.
Why should I blame anyone or call anyone my enemy? Rather, I must purify my mind and wish that he do the same, and so we will both be freed from suffering.”

This reflection calms the mind and helps us take some distance from our emotions, relieving us of hostile feelings. They then give way to a more favourable disposition of listening, understanding and attention to the other, which will improve the tone of the exchanges… and perhaps even the relationship. [3]
[1] See post no. 27, “Choosing one’s thoughts”.
[2] See post no. 39, “A key of light”.
[3] See post no. 5, “Easing relationships”.

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