Kind Mind

Kindness is available at all times and in all circumstances. The easiest way to be kind is to drop everything else. In other words...just do it, ...have a kind attitude and kind actions and kind words as often as possible. None of us are saints, so at times our fear, temper, judgment, anger, stubbornness, or attachment to a point of view keep us from kindness. Zen practice humbles us as we discover how mixed up our point of views can be. Zen is an inclusive practice that also increases our appreciation for all points of view.

Keeping an open mind is kindness. I had a business mentor who operated from the notion that all points of views were correct, even if they were wild and crazy. They were correct not because of their substance, but because they were the point of view that somebody held. This may seem like circular reasoning, but in fact it is reasoning based on dignity and truth. Each of us sees through our own lenses, and for us that is the correct point of view. Kindness is listening with a sense of curiosity and appreciation to points of view that differ from our own and not being invested in controlling or changing somebody's view point. Being right and imposing our views on others is actually harmful.

And what about when people have different points of view and need to come to some agreement? Without listening first to different viewpoints their can be no understanding or movement towards common ground. Sometimes problems can be solved, sometimes not, but kindness can always be present in the effort. When kindness become the standard of action, our life quickly reveals where we fall short, which gives us good grist for learning about ourselves.