Nobel laureate and spiritual leader His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama reportedly stated: “My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.”
Gautama Buddha (about 566-486 BCE), historical founder of Buddhism, is said to have tamed the angry elephant Nalagiri with his loving kindness.
There is an "Australian Kindness Movement" which claims to be "Making a real difference in the world through the power of kindness."
Kindness, a virtue involving concern for others, is valued by many religions and denominations. Some claim that God is synonymous with kindness, while some have defined it as “pure love.” Kindness affects us all and many believe that is capable of curing many ills in society. It is also described as “fellow-feeling” and “helpfulness,” while some stress that it breeds other virtues.
We asked our panel: How vital is “kindness” in your religion?
Here is what they have to say:
KINDNESS IS THE CORE
Muhammed A. Quddus, Northern Nevada Muslim Community member
To begin with, all but one of the 114 chapters in the Quran carrying God’s messages begin with His benevolence and mercifulness. The followers of the Islamic faith are to strive for a peaceful and successful life in this world and a gratifying eternal life thereafter. Achieving these goals require one to be righteous in belief and in action. Of the righteous deeds, kindness and compassion are at the core of this faith as evidenced in the Quran.
Quran teaches love and compassion for everyone imaginable (17:23; 30:21; 16:90; 4:36; 4:8; 2:177), including the nonbelievers (60:8-9). Additionally, it speaks of pluralism in God’s creation to lay the foundation for competition in righteousness among the diverse “nations” (5:48; 49:13). “There shall be no compulsion in religion” (2:256), the Quran declares. Likewise, kindness towards non-Muslims is affirmed in the verse that stipulates that they are to be treated justly with kindness (60:8).
KINDNESS IS KEY
Charles T. Durante, Roman Catholic Diocese of Reno vicar general
Two passages from the Christian Scriptures quickly come to mind: “God is love” from 1 John 4:8 and “Love is patient; love is kind” from 1 Corinthians 13:4. Love and kindness cannot be separated and both are attributes of a Christ-centered life. In the gospels Jesus is often portrayed as a model of kindness when he stops to talk with those who are hurting – the blind, the deaf, the lame, the sick, the poor, the widow, the foreigner, and those viewed as sinners. He extends kindness to those who otherwise were rejected in society. In these encounters he brings healing. His outreach to children also demonstrates exceptional kindness. This kindness is more than just being polite to others. It is a lived awareness of the feelings, hopes, anxieties and needs of others, centered in sacrificial love, and responding as best one can to lift their burdens.
PATH TO UNDERSTANDING
Matthew T. Fisher, Reno Buddhist Center resident priest
Loving Kindness is essential to the Buddhist approach to spirituality. All genuine practices of the Dharma develop this quality. Unless we practice and integrate this quality into our everyday lives, it will be impossible to attain enlightenment. The Buddha said of Loving Kindness, “As a mother would risk her life to protect her child, her only child, even so should one cultivate a limitless heart with regard to all beings.”
In Buddhism, Loving Kindness is the facility to accept all parts of others and the world - but ultimately it embodies profound acceptance of ourselves. Practicing Loving Kindness creates inner wholeness because it stops us from denying the different aspects of ourselves. We open to everything with the nurturing force of love. With an expansive mind we include the entirety of life in full awareness; both joy and pain are reconciled in Loving Kindness.
ESSENCE OF HEAVEN
Ryan J. Earl, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints assistant area public affairs director
Kindness has been said to be the balance between justice and mercy. God is kind because His plan balances the eternal laws and demands of justice with the eternal laws of mercy (see Alma 34). The reason Jesus Christ was required to suffer an infinite and eternal sacrifice was to allow the arms of mercy to overpower the grasp of justice on all those who have sinned. This divine gift of kindness is available to all who exercise faith unto repentance.
Kindness is the essence of greatness, a fundamental characteristic of nobility (see lds.org). Kindness softens hearts and molds relationships that can last lifetimes. “Kindness is how a Christlike person treats others. Kindness should permeate all of our words and actions at work, at school, at church, and especially in our homes" (see lds.org).
As stated in a Primary song, “Kindness begins with me.”
KIND SPIRITS
Brian E. Melendez, American Indian spirituality scholar
From a tribal perspective, kindness is the essential ingredient in the Great Cookie of life. Kindness for many tribal cultures is synonymous with gratitude and sincere concern. Kindness may in fact be the truest testament of an individual’s character in regards to enhancing the quality of life for others and nature.
Tribal spirituality is being (re)defined and (re)created everyday; evolving significantly with every single dream and intuition of those with open minds and open hearts. Kindness in conjunction with spirituality always produces the best possible fruits — if the intention to provide love and light is sincere, a single genuine act is the magic to heal anything.
Some of the greatest teachers and keepers of tribal knowledge have been able to transmit their message to welcoming ears and hearts of unreachable demographics, primarily because of their kind nature. Too many people of the World are not cared for. Be kind, do something …
BALANCE
ElizaBeth Beyer, Temple Beth Or and N. Tahoe Hebrew Congregation rabbi
Chesed (kindness) is an essential middah (attribute) which our Sages say is integral to Judaism. Chesed causes us to do what is right to help those in need. However, chesed must be tempered with its opposite: gevurah (strength, severity, justice). Kindness is key. However, too much chesed causes an imbalance. Maimonides instructed us to strive for a balance between these two opposites.
We must stand up for our deeply held values. Those in leadership positions must provide guidance. Thus, there are times when we must be intolerant to defend tolerance or be unkind to defend kindness. “Whoever is kind to the cruel will end up being cruel to the kind” (Kohelet Rabba 7:16; see also King Saul’s misplaced kindness toward King Agag of Amalek, I Samuel 15). Our actions may appear cruel as we work to stamp out hatred, intolerance or injustice. Ultimately, this is not cruelty, but a great act of kindness.
VITAL
Stephen R. Karcher, St. Anthony Greek Orthodox Church presiding priest
Kindness is often understood in a superficial way, as some sort of ‘nice-ness’. For the spiritually challenged this becomes a problem because "nice guys always finish last," as the saying goes. Far from being a weakness, however, kindness is a spiritual virtue that expresses tremendous faith and superhuman strength. Like all virtues, kindness is a trait that belongs first of all to God, and then to those who imitate him. God first shows us "the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness," which then enables us to "put on compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience." It’s not superficial; it’s not subjective, biased, or self-serving. It’s genuine. Scripture teaches it’s a divine gift, saying that "the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." Kindness is vital. It’s a reflection and evidence of divinity. It’s the mark of health, of strength and of a spiritually prosperous life.
BE INFINITELY KIND
Bradley S. Corbin, Baha’i teacher
The purpose of the Baha’i Faith, summarized in this passage by Baha’u’llah, ties the virtue of kindness to the advancement of mankind. “All men have been created to carry forward an ever-advancing civilization. The Almighty beareth Me witness: To act like the beasts of the field is unworthy of man. Those virtues that befit his dignity are forbearance, mercy, compassion and loving-kindness towards all the peoples and kindreds of the earth.” Each of us has the capacity to be kind. God shines his kindness upon us and we can easily share this kindness with others. Abdu'l-Baha appeals to the Baha’is for action: “Wherefore must the loved ones of God associate in affectionate fellowship with stranger and friend alike, showing forth to all the utmost loving-kindness, disregarding the degree of their capacity, never asking whether they deserve to be loved. In every instance let the friends be considerate and infinitely kind.”
FRUIT
Steve B. Bond, senior pastor of Summit Christian Church, Sparks
Kindness is one dimension of the fruit of the Holy Spirit. When someone becomes a Christ follower by inviting Jesus into his or her life, the Bible teaches that the new believer immediately receives the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. As the believer grows in his or her obedience to the Lord, the Holy Spirit increasingly produces the fruit of a transformed life.
Galatians 5:22-23 identifies this fruit: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Collectively the fruit of the Spirit epitomizes Christ-like spiritual maturity because these nine characteristics find their ultimate expression in Jesus.
Thus, kindness is important to the Christian faith because it bears testimony to a life that has been truly changed by Christ. Kindness serves as a lubricant in all human relationships, enabling us to be more sensitive and forgiving to those around us.
RELATIVITY OF KINDNESS
Kenneth G. Lucey, UNR philosophy/religion professor
One person being kind to another person usually means the first individual conferring a benefit or goodness upon another. Many religions have endorsed a moral principle such as “The Golden Rule”, which says “do unto others as you would have done unto you.” Applications of that rule vary depending upon what you would have others doing to you. Suppose someone values privacy and autonomy above all else; such a person would take it as a kindness to simply be left alone to pursue his/her own interests. For such a person, the Golden Rule would sanction one to simply ignore the concerns of others. But autonomy has its limits. The drowning or starving person surely wants and needs the assistance of others. So, ultimately, kindness is a relative notion. Depending on context, what might seem a kindness to one person might well be construed as meddling interference by another.
Kind thoughts and kind actions is good, but more importantly, lack of malice is even more important if one does not have wisdom and skilful means.